Press Release

Safety Investigation Ongoing Following Potential Storm-Related Weekend Incident in Delaware County Resulting in Gas Leak, Electric Incident and House Explosion

Published on 9/25/2023

Filed under: Electric Gas

Note: The following information is preliminary and may be supplemented or corrected as the investigation continues.

HARRISBURG – Pipeline and electric safety engineers from the Safety Division of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) – which is part of the Commission’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) – are continuing their investigation into a weekend incident in Yeadon, Delaware County which occurred in the midst of coastal storm Ophelia, involving reports of a gas leak, downed electric wires and a house explosion and fire that damaged several homes and resulted in the evacuation of more than 100 nearby residents.

Yeadon Investigation Overview

On September 23, 2023, I&E safety engineers responded to the scene of a reported gas leak and house explosion at 14 W. Providence Rd. in Yeadon, Delaware County – which damaged a duplex house and resulted in the evacuation of homes and apartments around the incident site.

Safety division engineers have been on-site since Saturday, gathering information about the incident; observing work by PECO crews to locate and repair gas leaks in the area; and monitoring the safe restoration of electric and natural gas utility service to the neighborhood around the incident.

Initial reports indicate that an electrical line was brought down by a tree, as high winds and heavy rain from coastal storm Ophelia swept across southeastern Pennsylvania – and that may have caused a gas leak that resulted in the explosion and fire – but safety engineers continue to gather information about the incident.

PUC Safety Division Jurisdiction and Investigations

The Safety Division investigation in Delaware County is active and ongoing – involving both pipeline safety and electric safety teams from the Safety Division – who are gathering and analyzing evidence and data to explore whether public utility infrastructure or operations contributed to the cause and circumstances surrounding an incident, along with whether there are any violations of state or federal pipeline and/or electric safety regulations.

It is important to note that I&E investigations are limited – by regulation – to the involvement of, or impact from, utilities and utility systems under the jurisdiction of the PUC. I&E does not have jurisdiction to investigate items or events beyond a service meter – and the interior, non-jurisdictional, assets involved in incidents are the subject of investigation by other parties and agencies outside the PUC.

The Safety Division recognizes the strong public interest in these types of incidents, especially for those who have been directly impacted, and works to address safety concerns in a timely manner. Still, it is important to understand that these are complex circumstances which may require extensive analyses by engineers and other experts, along with laboratory testing and other technical study before conclusions can be reached.

Any determinations and/or actions are based on that information, within the scope of the PUC’s jurisdiction, and any safety concerns identified by investigators are addressed promptly with regulated pipeline operators and/or utilities.  

About the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement

Engineers from the Safety Division are in the field daily, conducting inspections of utility construction, operations, and integrity management activities. They also investigate issues discovered during their inspections, along with incidents reported by utility operators and emergency response agencies.

I&E, as the independent investigation and enforcement bureau of the PUC, enforces state and federal pipeline safety 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 has the authority to bring enforcement action, seek emergency orders from the Commission or take other steps to enforce safety regulations and promote public safety.

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Contact:

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