Ocean City: Six things to know about natural gas in the resort

Correction: This story was updated correct the name of the company introducing natural gas to Ocean City. It is Chesapeake Utilities.

Chesapeake Utilities is in the process of converting propane in Ocean City to natural gas.

The company began the transition in early 2017, said Shane Breakie, director of energy services for Chesapeake Utilities.

Here are six things to know about the town's conversion to natural gas.

1. It will take a couple of years to do the whole town

The conversion in the town started in early 2017, Breakie said, and will continue into the future.

"We don’t have a designated completion time," he said. "We are subject to limitations during the summer, so we have do to the brunt of our work during the offseason."

READ MORE: 'Newspaper man,' Ocean City local John Purnell dies

2. It won't cost customers anything

While Breakie said the whole project totaled $20 million in costs, which included running a pipe from mainland Worcester County through the bay behind Ocean City, the cost won't be passed onto the customer.

"Normally, there is no upfront cost with the conversion," he said. "There are customers where we are switching them over, and those costs are built into the rate, so in most cases there are no upfront costs for the residents."

3. It's easier to manage

With natural gas, properties don't need to have tanks like with propane.

"When the conversion is all done, there will be no need for buried or above ground storage tanks in Ocean City," Breakie said.

READ MORE: Ocean City mayor responds after lawsuit claims women have right to go topless in public

4. Compared to propane, there are more benefits

Natural gas is clean, safe, reliable, affordable, abundant and domestic, Breakie said.

"From a safety perspective, natural gas is lighter than air, which makes it safer if there ever is a leak versus propane that is not lighter than air," he added.

5. It's town wide

Terry McGean, Ocean City engineer, said since Chesapeake Utilities owns the systems in the town, it will be applied town wide.

"Every building that has a propane gas connection — government or private — will be converted over the next couple of years," he said.

6. It's not just Ocean City

The plans to develop natural gas in Worcester County began when Chesapeake Utilities took over Eastern Shore Gas, Breakie said.

So far, they have expanded natural gas services to Berlin and West Ocean City, and they are in the process of expanding natural gas services in Ocean Pines.