Press Release

PUC Approves Settlement with Mobile Home Park Operators Regarding Registration of Pipeline Systems

Published on 8/24/2018

Filed under: Gas

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) has approved a settlement between the Commission’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (BI&E) and the owner and operators of four mobile home communities located in York County.

The settlement, approved by a 5-0 vote, addresses allegations against ATG Properties LLC, doing business as Greenleaf Gas Company, along with Brookhaven HMP Management LLC, Meadowview Management LLC, Mill Creek MHP Management LLC and Northwood Manor Management LLC.

According to the complaint filed by BI&E, the mobile home communities were served by natural gas or propane gas distribution systems, which are required to be registered with the PUC’s Pipeline Safety Division.

Act 127 of 2012 (the Pipeline Act) expanded the PUC’s authority to enforce pipeline safety regulations involving non-public utility gas and hazardous liquids pipelines in Pennsylvania. Operators are required to register with the PUC and annually report the total intrastate miles of regulated transmission, distribution and gathering pipelines in their systems.

The registration of these pipelines and facilities is an important tool for the Commission’s Pipeline Safety Division to identify, inspect and enforce safety regulations. Given serious incidents involving other small gas distribution systems, including a fatal explosion in 2014 in Northampton County, the PUC is keenly aware of the importance of safety oversight for these non-public utility systems – including natural gas and propane systems operated by mobile home parks and other similar communities.

Operators are also required to pay an annual assessment, based on the mileage of those systems, which helps support the cost of PUC pipeline safety activities.

Under the terms of the settlement approved today, the operators will pay a civil penalty of $25,000 – payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania - along with a payment to the Commission of $5,060.40, representing unpaid annual assessments.

The settlement agreement notes that the mobile home community owners and operators have now submitted the required Act 127 registrations; they will continue to submit annual registration forms; no other pipeline safety violations were identified; and no customers were adversely affected.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

Visit the PUC’s website at www.puc.pa.gov for recent news releases and video of select proceedings. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Search for the “Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission” or “PA PUC” on your favorite social media channel for updates on utility issues and other helpful consumer information.

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Docket Nos.:

C-2017-2613983
C-2017-2613984
C-2017-2613985
C-2017-2613986
C-2017-2613987

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov