Natural Gas Pipeline Safety

The act requires the public utilities commission's (commission) gas pipeline safety rules, on or before March 1, 2024, to address requirements for: The installation or reinstallation of service regulators by the owner or operator so that any vents associated with the service regulators are at least 12 inches above ground level and located in an area that is protected from external blockage; and The visual inspection of gas meters and service regulators by a qualified individual no less frequently than every 5 calendar years with intervals not to exceed 63 months and the record documentation of each inspection. The act requires the commission to promulgate rules, on or before March 1, 2024, to establish a process for determining whether an owner or operator of a natural gas distribution system (owner or operator) or a customer is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the portion of the service line, if installed on or after August 14, 1995, and before March 1, 2024, that extends from the gas meter to the customer's primary residential or commercial structure that is serviced with natural gas (customer-owned service line). The act also requires the commission to promulgate rules, on or before March 1, 2024, requiring an owner or operator that distributes gas to a customer-owned service line installed by the owner or operator on or after March 1, 2024, to: Provide written notice to the customer, within 90 days after the installation of the customer-owned service line, informing the customer whether the owner or operator or the customer is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the customer-owned service line; and Use best efforts to obtain a signed copy of the written notice from the customer. An owner or operator that fails to obtain a signed copy of the written notice must either maintain proof of efforts to obtain the customer's signature or document the customer's refusal to provide a signature. APPROVED by Governor June 7, 2023 EFFECTIVE June 7, 2023 (Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)