Press Release

PUC Rejects Proposed Settlement with Columbia Gas Concerning Washington County House Explosion

Published on 12/8/2022

Filed under: Gas

Refers Case to PUC’s Independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement for Further Proceedings Concerning 2019 Incident That Destroyed a Home in Washington, Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today rejected a proposed settlement regarding a natural gas explosion that destroyed a house in the City of Washington, Pennsylvania, in July 2019 – injuring several people and damaging other nearby homes.  The incident occurred as construction work was underway nearby on a Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania (Columbia Gas) project involving gas mains in the area. 

The Commission voted 3-2 to refer the matter to the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) for further proceedings, based on a motion from PUC Chairman Gladys Brown Dutrieuille.

Explosion Investigation

Pipeline safety inspectors from I&E and the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal jointly conducted an evaluation to determine the cause of the July 31, 2019, explosion at 100 Park Lane. 

According to investigators, the primary cause of the explosion was the over-pressurization of the house piping and appliances – noting that Columbia Gas had failed to include the residence on the company’s maps for its nearby “Dewey Avenue Replacement Project,” and, as a result, the house was not equipped with a service regulator when operating pressure in the Columbia Gas distribution system was significantly increased. 

The explosion demolished the entire residential structure at 100 Park Lane and injured several people, including residents and emergency responders who had answered a 9-1-1 call reporting a strong gas odor at the home. Additionally, one other nearby residence was condemned because of damage from the explosion, and numerous other homes and vehicles were damaged.

Concerns Raised About Settlement

In today’s motion, Chairman Dutrieuille raised a series of concerns following review of the settlement along with public comments that were received about the settlement – which had proposed a civil penalty of $990,000, along with corrective actions by Columbia Gas.

Per the motion, the Commission is seeking to further develop the record in this case before rendering a decision, including:

• Whether any remedial measures stemming from a 2018 over-pressurization event in Massachusetts were recommended for Columbia Gas of PA and, if so, whether they were effectuated – which could be relevant to this Pennsylvania case.
• An estimated timeline for completion of each of the corrective actions proposed in this settlement.
• An accounting of the monetary damage caused by the explosion and if Columbia Gas ratepayers are responsible for the financial liability, which is a factor in determining civil penalties.
  
  

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Docket No.: M-2022-3012079

Contact:

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