Press Release

PUC Enforcement Bureau Files Formal Complaints over 2022 House Explosion and Fire in Suburban Harrisburg

Published on 6/30/2025

Filed under: Gas

Seeks Civil Penalties and Calls for Gas Company Remedial Measures for Violations of Pipeline Safety Regulations and PA One Call

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s (PUC’s) independent Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement (I&E) has filed multiple formal complaints against UGI Utilities Inc. (UGI) and Pronto Plumbing Heating Air Drains (Pronto Plumbing) of Camp Hill, Cumberland County, stemming from a 2022 house explosion and fire in suburban Harrisburg.

The formal complaint filings follow an investigation by the PUC’s Safety Division into a house explosion and fire on Dec. 13, 2022, at 3204 Crest Road (Crest Road), Harrisburg.  On that day, Pronto Plumbing, during excavation activities, struck and damaged a natural gas service line operated by UGI, resulting in a line rupture and a release of gas that migrated into the Crest Road residence. The natural gas subsequently ignited, resulting in an explosion that destroyed the residence, damaged several adjacent homes and injured two people.

During its investigation the PUC’s Safety Division explored the circumstances surrounding this incident, compliance with state and federal pipeline safety regulations, as well as compliance with Pennsylvania’s “One Call Law,” which is intended to help prevent damage to underground utility lines.

I&E’s Formal Complaints

In total, I&E has filed three formal complaints – two formal complaints against UGI and one formal complaint against Pronto Plumbing.  The complaints center on UGI’s failure to comply with federal and state gas safety regulations as well as failure by both UGI and Pronto Plumbing to adhere to Pennsylvania’s One Call Law (PA One Call).

I&E Formal Complaints Against UGI Utilities

I&E’s first formal complaint against UGI alleges gas safety violations of the Public Utility Code, Commission regulations, and federal pipeline safety regulations. The alleged violations include, but are not limited to, failure to have written procedures, failure to follow damage prevention procedures, insufficient emergency procedures, and failure to protect the public and employees.

In its complaint, I&E seeks a civil penalty in the amount of $375,000 and numerous remedial measures by the company.

I&E’s second formal complaint against UGI alleges a violation of PA One Call, in that the company failed to mark its facilities in response to an emergency One Call locate request.  

In this second formal complaint, I&E seeks an additional administrative penalty from UGI in the amount of $20,000.

Pronto Plumbing One Call Complaint

I&E’s formal complaint against Pronto Plumbing also alleges violations of PA One Call. The alleged violations include failure to use prudent excavation techniques, failure to use due care in excavating an area that had not been marked, failure to immediately notify the facility owner of excavation damage, and failure to renotify the PA One Call System upon finding an unmarked excavation area.

In this complaint, I&E seeks an administrative penalty in the amount of $50,000, the statutory maximum.

About the Bureau of Investigation & Enforcement

Engineers from the Safety Division are in the field daily, conducting inspections of utility construction, operations, and integrity management activities. They also investigate issues discovered during their inspections, along with incidents reported by utility operators and emergency response agencies.  Safety Division Engineers are federally trained and certified by US DOT PHMSA.

I&E, as the independent investigation and enforcement bureau of the PUC, enforces state and federal pipeline safety and motor carrier safety laws and regulations and represents the public interest in ratemaking and service matters before the PUC’s Office of Administrative Law Judge. I&E has the authority to bring enforcement action, seek emergency orders from the Commission or take other steps to ensure public safety.

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Docket Nos:
C-2025-3055919 (UGI Utilities – Gas Safety)
C-2025-3055920 (Pronto Plumbing – Damage Prevention)
C-2025-3055923 (UGI Utilities – Damage Prevention)

Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov
• David Hixson
  Deputy Press Secretary
  717-772-2766
  dhixson@pa.gov