Press Release

PUC Seeks Public Comment on Revised Settlement with Columbia Gas Concerning Washington County House Explosion

Published on 4/20/2023

Filed under: Gas

2019 Incident Destroyed a Home in Washington, Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today voted to seek public comment on a proposed revised 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 5-0 to seek comment from interested parties regarding the revised joint settlement presented by Columbia Gas and the PUC’s independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E).  The proposed settlement will be published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin, and that publication will begin a 25-day comment period.

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 other homes and vehicles were damaged.

Revised Proposed Settlement

The proposed settlement includes a $990,000 civil penalty to be paid by Columbia Gas, which will not be recovered as part of any future ratemaking proceeding and will not be tax deductible.

The settlement also includes a series of corrective actions and procedural changes by Columbia Gas, including:

• Revisions to Columbia Gas’ procedures involving projects where operating pressures are being uprated/increased.
• Development and implementation of a program to ensure identification of the location, main, and pressure system for each service line tap in the Columbia Gas service territory.
• Modifications to the minimum requirement for service line records – including information about tap locations that differ from the actual street address.
• Creating a program to review all service line records to ensure they meet the minimum requirements and a quality control program for those service line records.
• Enhanced training to address procedural changes, and regular retraining for all impacted employees, including management and engineering staff.
• Enhancements to Columbia Gas’ mapping system and development of a process to ensure pipeline system updates are correctly mapped.
• Discontinue the use of incremental uprates in the conversion of low-pressure systems to elevated pressures.

Additionally, the proposed revised settlement includes responses to questions raised by the Commissioners in December 2022, when they rejected an initial proposed settlement in this case and returned the matter to I&E for further proceedings.  Those questions include:

• 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.
  
  

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.

# # #

Docket No.: M-2022-3012079

Contact:

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