A Consent Agreement between Southwest Gas Corporation (SWG) and the Arizona Corporation Commission Office of Pipeline Safety (AZOPS) has been reached in a case involving an explosion that injured four people.
The agreement proposes a resolution of issues arising from two incidents involving Southwest Gas in 2021. In 2021, there were two separate incidents that occurred in Chandler and Scottsdale, with the Chandler incident resulting in an explosion that injured four people.
AZOPS investigators concluded that pipe purchased by Southwest Gas degraded in high heat areas, leading to leaks, and possible explosions. The investigators further concluded that Southwest Gas failed to properly map where this type of pipe, referred to as Driscopipe polyethylene (PE) M7000 and M8000, was located and needed to increase leak patrols. The mapping errors lead to an incorrect understanding of where the potentially failing piping is located. Maintaining accurate records is mandated by law.
Southwest Gas accepted responsibility and agreed to pay $2,000,000 to the Commission as a civil penalty. As part of the agreement, Southwest Gas also must plan to replace or abandon all newly discovered, previously unmapped, services with no active meter sets or stubs identified underground that contain the defective piping material. Southwest Gas must also notify AZOPS of leaks discovered in M7000 and M8000 services to enable AZOPS to continue to monitor the situation.
Southwest Gas estimates there are more than 10,000 miles of M7000 and M8000 pipe installed throughout Arizona and maintains a Distribution Integrity Management Plan to target high-risk portions of pipe for replacement or abandonment.
An amendment proposed by Commissioner Kevin Thompson was also approved, making it clear that enactment of the settlement does not constitute an approval or authorization by the Commission for recovering the costs of pipe replacement or costs associated with fulfilling the terms of the settlement in any upcoming rate case. Commissioner Thompson’s amendment made it clear that the issue of cost recovery for pipe replacement will be handled in due course in a rate hearing. “This matter has been before the Commission long enough and the approval of this settlement is a big step in the direction of maintaining public safety and holding the utility accountable,” said Commissioner Thompson. “I don’t believe customers should bear the entire responsibility for the mistakes of the manufacturer and their defective products, and I wish the utility would have pursued this path more aggressively when they had the chance.” Southwest Gas did not file a civil suit against the manufacturer for defective product liability.
Southwest Gas also agreed to increase its leak patrols to the rate of six times per calendar year along its extensive network.
