Press Release

PUC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Settlement with Columbia Gas of PA Concerning Over-pressurization of Distribution Systems

Published on 2/3/2022

Filed under: Gas

Settlement Follows PUC Examination of 2018 Incidents on Columbia Gas Systems in Fayetteville, Franklin County and Rimersburg, Clarion County

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today moved to seek public comment on a proposed settlement addressing events that resulted in the over-pressurization of Columbia Gas distribution systems in Fayetteville, Franklin County and Rimersburg, Clarion County.

The Commission voted 3-0 today to publish the proposed settlement in the Pennsylvania Bulletin for comment.  Concerned parties have 25 days from the publication of the proposed settlement to file their comments with the Commission, using the PUC’s free eFiling system.

Joint Settlement Proposal

The joint settlement – which was submitted by the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) and Columbia Gas – follows an informal I&E investigation into the cause and circumstances of events in January 2018, involving the natural gas distribution system in Fayetteville, along with events in May and June of 2018, involving the distribution system in Rimersburg.

According to the joint settlement, Columbia Gas of PA will pay a $535,000 civil penalty addressing a series of alleged violations of state and federal pipeline safety regulations.

Additionally, the settlement requires Columbia Gas to identify and inventory all bypass valves in its system in Pennsylvania; rank the risks specific to those valves; and develop a replacement schedule and mitigation measures to prevent bypass valves from bleeding through or failing.

The settlement also calls for Columbia Gas to continue with procedural and operational changes that have already been implemented – including improvements to inspection and operation of valves and regulators; enhanced systems to monitor and warn operators when pressures are too high or too low; and additional standard operating procedures.

About the PUC

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 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 No.: M-2021-3005572

Contact:

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