Austin Utilities is testing how aware residents are about the safe use and safety of gas.

Utilities officials will conduct a phone survey starting April 28 for about two weeks to ask residents questions about natural gas use. Austin Utilities is asking residents who receive these calls to complete the survey, as it’s part of a report to the federal Office of Pipeline Safety.

Federal pipeline safety regulations require pipeline operators to conduct continuing public awareness programs to provide pipeline safety information to stakeholder audiences, including the affected public, emergency officials, local public officials, and excavators about how to recognize, respond to, and report pipeline emergencies.The purpose of the guidelines is to reduce pipeline accidents, which are often due to digging by homeowners, contractors, and farmers.

Austin Utilities’ last survey was performed in 2010. Results of that survey showed 29 percent of Austin residents say their utility does an excellent job of informing them about gas pipeline safety. The national average is 32 percent.

Austin Utilities is a municipal utility serving about 12,300 electric customers, 10,300 natural gas customers, and 9000 water customers.