Xcel Energy says no natural gas leaks or breaks, blames odor across Denver metro area on sewers

Xcel Energy and several fire departments and other agencies in and around Denver say they've received a number of calls about a natural gas smell across the metro area and are now investigating the source.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office appears to be the first agency to comment on the smell, tweeting around 3:45 a.m. Sunday about people in the Highlands Ranch area smelling natural gas. The sheriff's office said that there's no need to call 911 unless you hear a hissing sound or smell natural gas indoors.

South Metro Fire Rescue tweeted about the reports soon after, saying there had been reports of the odor in Highlands Ranch as well as Centennial.

Throughout the morning, Aurora Fire Rescue and then the Denver Fire Department also said they received reports of the odor across the metro area, with the former agency saying that Xcel Energy was investigating the source of the smell and working to resolve it.

In a statement to CBS News Colorado, Xcel spokesperson Michelle Aguayo said the company didn't find any leaks or breaks and attributed the odor to sewers.

"We've received several calls from customers asking about a strange odor in the metro area," he said in an email. "Our natural gas system is working with no known leaks or line breaks, and our crews believe the smell is sewer-related. If customers believe there is a natural gas leak, we encourage them to report it by calling 911 and Xcel Energy at 800-895-2999."