Press Release

PUC Approves Settlement with Peoples Natural Gas Company

Published on 8/4/2022

Filed under: Gas

Settlement Follows PUC Examination of 2019 Incident Involving Natural Gas Leak and Service Outage in Moon Township, Allegheny County

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today approved a joint settlement that addresses events surrounding a natural gas leak and subsequent service outage in Moon Township, Pennsylvania, related to the alleged failure of a temporary meter station installed by Peoples Natural Gas Company (Peoples Gas).

The Commission voted 3-0 today to approve the settlement, following a period for public comment.  There were no comments filed regarding the settlement.

Joint Settlement

The settlement – which was submitted jointly by the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) and Peoples Gas – follows an informal I&E investigation into the cause and circumstances of events that took place on March 9, 2019, at a temporary meter station located on Western Avenue in Moon Township that resulted in a natural gas leak and outage impacting approximately 980 customers in that area.

Under the terms of the settlement approved today, Peoples Gas will pay a $195,000 civil penalty – payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, to be paid within 30 days of this PUC order becoming final.

Additionally, within 30 days of the entry of this order, Peoples Gas will provide I&E with information about the locations of all current temporary meter and regulator stations in the Peoples’ system; change its design process regarding temporary meter and regulator stations; and implement a process to enhance communications with the I&E Safety Division about reporting incidents.

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-2022-3028365

Contact:

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