Press Release

Electric Safety Investigation into Fatal Lehigh Valley Electrocution Results in Formal Complaint Against Met-Ed; $4.533 Million Civil Penalty Sought

Published on 7/23/2019

Filed under: Electric

HARRISBURG – Safety engineers and prosecutors from the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement (I&E) – the independent investigation and enforcement bureau of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) – have filed a formal complaint seeking $4.533 million in civil penalties from Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed), along with numerous changes in utility procedures and standards, following a lengthy investigation into an incident that claimed the life of a Northampton County man.

According to the I&E complaint, a high-voltage conductor owned and operated by Met-Ed fell into the backyard of a residence along Royal Manor Road in Easton on July 26, 2016. One of the residents of that home – Thomas Poynton – stepped outside after hearing a loud explosion and was electrocuted when he encountered energized ground outside his home. The Poynton home was also damaged by a resulting fire.

Based on the investigation by electric safety engineers from I&E, the complaint alleges that Met-Ed and its contractors used a series of “bronze hotline clamps” attached to the 34,500 volt transmission lines near the incident site – including the conductor that fell to the ground – which were intended for copper conductors, rather than the aluminum lines they were attached to. This was contrary to the manufacturer’s recommendations and contrary to the materials specifications for FirstEnergy (Met-Ed’s parent company). Also, the company allegedly did not have procedures for the installation of hotline clamps.

Additionally, the complaint alleges that Met-Ed’s ground fault protection system failed on the day of the incident, allowing the continued flow of electricity to the conductor after it fell to the ground.

Among the specific violations alleged in the I&E complaint are:

• The use of clamps on aluminum conductor lines which were designed for use on copper lines and which the manufacturer specifically noted are “not recommended” for use on aluminum conductors.
• The use of clamps on aluminum conductor lines which the company material specifications direct be used on copper conductors.
• Failure to maintain records for the installation clamps on the lines involved in this incident.
• The inability to identify when or where similar clamps may have been installed throughout the Met-Ed system.
• Failure of Met-Ed to identify incorrectly installed equipment during regular pole and conductor inspections prior to the fatal incident.
• Failure to properly train, equip, monitor and supervise employees and contractors in the proper installation inspection and maintenance of clamps.
• Failure of Met-Ed’s ground fault protection system.
• Failure by Met-Ed to maintain its transmission system in conformance with NESC, which requires that during inspection and maintenance all defective equipment should be “put in good order or permanently disconnected” and failure to require all employees working in the vicinity of energized equipment or lines to “perform only those tasks for which they are trained, equipped, authorized and so directed.”
• Failure to provide safe and reliable service.

As a result of the alleged failures detailed by the electric safety investigation, I&E is asking the Commission to impose a total civil penalty of $4,533,000, along with the ordering of numerous corrective actions focused on training, supervision, records retention and procedures for responding to 9-1-1 requests to de-energize equipment or facilities. 

Additionally, the complaint calls for the immediate creation of a Met-Ed program, to be approved by the Commission, for “the inspection, maintenance, repair and replacement of any and all conductors containing clamps and/or other connections that have been installed contrary to manufacturer’s instructions and defective ground fault equipment” – to be completed within one year from a final Commission order in this case.

Per PUC regulations, the company has 20 days from the date of service to file an answer to the formal complaint.

About Electric Safety

Created in 2014, the Electric Safety Section of the Safety Division works to increase the safety of individuals working around power lines, including utility employees, contractors, construction workers and homeowners.  Annually, an average of 24 serious injuries and six deaths occur in Pennsylvania involving individuals working around utility company power lines. 

Additional general electric safety information and tips are listed on the PUC’s Electric Safety webpage under “Homeowner and Contractor Safety Information”.

About the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement

As the independent investigation and enforcement bureau of the PUC, I&E enforces state and federal regulations as it pertains to pipeline safety, electric safety, water safety, and Pa1Call Enforcement and motor carrier safety laws and regulations and represents the public interest in ratemaking and service matters before the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge.  I&E Safety Division includes the Pipeline Safety Section, the Electric Safety Section and Motor Carrier Enforcement Division and has the authority to bring enforcement action, seek emergency orders from the Commission or take other steps to ensure public safety.

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 Docket No:  C-2019-3011675

Contact:

• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov