PA Environment Digest Blog: PUC Invites Comments On Accelerated Removal, Replacement Of Older Plastic Pipe In Natural Gas Distribution Systems

The Public Utility Commission published notice in the September 7 PA Bulletin inviting comments on the proposed replacement of plastic pipe by natural gas distribution utilities.

In August, the Commission voted 5-0 to approve a motion by Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank which is patterned after the state’s successful ongoing efforts to eliminate other at-risk materials from natural gas utility systems.

Click Here for motion and more background on the plastic pipe issue.

In his motion, Chairman DeFrank noted the substantial progress that has been made across Pennsylvania removing at-risk gas pipe materials – especially older cast iron and unprotected steel.

Those efforts have accelerated as natural gas companies were authorized to use a Distribution System Improvement Charge (DSIC) to fund quicker replacement, reducing the amount of at-risk piping to a fraction of what it was a decade ago.

This latest PUC initiative seeks to use the DSIC and other tools to address new concerns about older plastic materials.

“Significant progress has been made in the removal of cast iron and bare steel pipe in Pennsylvania’s natural gas distribution systems. In fact, 81% of cast iron pipe has been removed from non-municipally owned systems,” stated Chairman DeFrank. “While I understand that cast iron and bare steel have not been fully eliminated, it is important to simultaneously focus on the replacement of older plastic pipe.”

Key Plastic Pipe Issues

The PUC’s plastic pipe replacement initiative includes three key components related to older plastic materials – installed between the 1960s and 1980s – which are susceptible to brittle-like cracking--

-- Information Gathering – The PUC conducted a recent survey regarding at-risk plastic pipes, but not every natural gas utility replied to that data request. Today’s motion requires PUC staff to reissue that data request and directs all non-responsive utilities to provide the requested information within 30 days.

-- Adding At-Risk Plastic Pipe to Existing Replacement Plans – Older plastic pipe is not currently targeted for replacement by every natural gas utility eligible to use a DSIC, but today’s motion would allow amendments to those plans to accelerate the replacement of at-risk plastic materials.

-- New Pipeline Replacement Plans for Smaller Utilities – Smaller natural gas utilities would be required to file a Pipeline Replacement Plan for Commission review and approval, requiring replacement of at-risk pipe (including plastic, cast iron and unprotected steel) based on the risks identified in their integrity management plans.

Public Comment

Interested parties will have 30 days from the publication date in the PA Bulletin to submit comments, and 45 days to offer any reply comments.

Documents related to this action can be found at: Docket No.: M-2024-3050313

(Photo: NTSB illustration of DuPont Aldyl A plastic natural gas pipeline “T” that may have contributed to the deadly Reading chocolate plant explosion.)

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