Press Release

PUC Directs Columbia Gas to Pay $10,000 Civil Penalty

Published on 7/29/2010

Filed under: Gas

HARRISBURG –The Pennsylvania Utility Commission today ordered Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania to pay a $10,000 civil penalty for alleged violations of the state Public Utility Code and federal regulations on pipeline safety.

 The Commission voted 4-1 to approve the settlement, which follows an investigation into an incident that happened on Aug. 24, 2007, in German Township, Fayette County, in which an excavation contractor struck a service line owned by Columbia Gas.  Commissioner Wayne E. Gardner offered a dissenting statement.  Vice Chairman Tyrone J. Christy offered a partial dissenting statement.  The PUC’s prosecutory staff alleged that the company did not provide for temporary marking of buried pipelines in the area prior to excavation activity and also did not keep maps and records of its distribution system of the incident site.

 Columbia provides natural gas service to approximately 373,000 residential and 38,000 commercial customers in Adams, Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Butler, Centre, Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Greene, Indiana, Jefferson, Lawrence, McKean, Mercer, Somerset, Venango, Warren, Washington, Westmoreland and York counties.

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 website at www.puc.state.pa.us.

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Docket No. M-2009-1505396

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