Press Release

PUC Finalizes $40,000 Settlement with UGI in Lancaster County Home Explosion

Published on 10/23/2008

Filed under: Gas

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today finalized a settlement with UGI Utilities Inc. that ends an informal investigation into a natural gas explosion that destroyed a Lancaster County home.

“Utility company hardship funds provide immediate cash assistance to residential customers who need help in paying their utility bills and offer additional assistance to those customers who still have a critical need after exhausting all other resources available to them,” Vice Chairman Tyrone J. Christy said in a motion that directs $40,000 to the company’s Operations Share hardship fund, which helps low-income consumers maintain service.

The Commission voted 4-1 to approve the motion. Chairman James H. Cawley dissented and issued a statement.

The settlement agreement, reached between the PUC’s prosecutory staff and UGI, followed an informal investigation of a Sept. 2, 2006 gas explosion at 39 Apple Blossom Drive, West Lampeter Township. The explosion that destroyed the home resulted from a leak in the gas line.

Under the settlement, UGI also agreed to:

• Re-train and re-qualify its emergency responders and management related to emergency procedures;
• Change its emergency procedures to include techniques that will help determine leak locations and leak migration; and
• Meet with the PUC’s Gas Safety Division to review the company’s program to inspect certain types of gas lines when they are uncovered in the normal course of business and institute a testing program for certain types of gas lines.

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities to ensure safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protect the public interest; educate consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; further economic development; and foster new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner. For recent news releases, audio of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our Web site at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No.     M-2008-2036549

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