PG&E: Lax Regulations Partly Responsible for Pipeline Record-Keeping Discrepancies

PG&E said in a filing to the CPUC Monday that its lack of accurate records on the pipeline that exploded into a deadly fireball in the Crestmoor neighborhood on Sept. 9 wouldn't have had an impact on its pipeline safety practices.

The utility also said its record-keeping discrepancies, which were made evident by the National Transportation Safety Board as part of its ongoing investigation into the disaster, were partly the result of lax federal and state regulations. 

When Line 132 was installed in 1956, federal and state agencies made gas transmission lines such as Line 132 exempt from safety regulations, Pacific Gas & Electric Co. contended in the filing.

"At the time of their construction and initial operation, many of these older lines were exempt from certain state and federal safety regulations, including those regarding construction, installation,design, initial inspection and initial testing and related recordkeeping requirements," PG&E told the California Public Utilities Commission. "Those same pipelines are now 55 years old, and although they appear to be operating reliably today, we recognize that their ability to continue transporting natural gas safely must be reevaluated and validated."

PG&E's stance was part of its response to a state probe of its record-keeping practices, which have been under scrutiny since the NTSB reported that it that exploded after PG&E said the pipe was "seamless."

In the filing, PG&E outlined the steps it has taken to check its pipeline records since to submit a detailed accounting of its gas transmission lines that haven't undergone testing for safe operating pressures. 

The utility also continued to defend its integrity management program, which was responsible for monitoring pipelines such as Line 132 for flaws.

Read PG&E's full report in the attachment.