PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO

Incident Narrative

AT APPROXIMATELY 1028 HOURS ON JULY 26, 2013, PG&E WAS NOTIFIED BY CAL FIRE THAT A THIRD PARTY EXCAVATOR, DIGGING WITH A MECHANICAL TRENCHER AT 4367 GRESHAM DR IN EL DORADO HILLS, HAD STRUCK A 1/2-INCH PLASTIC SERVICE, RESULTING IN AN UNINTENTIONAL RELEASE OF GAS. THE TRENCHER SUBSEQUENTLY CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CONTRACTOR, BREAULT ASPHALT, CALLED IN A USA DIG TICKET (TICKET # 0235482), WHICH HAD EXPIRED ON JULY 19, 2013. THEIR SUB CONTRACTOR, CENTRAL VALLEY ENGINEERING AND ASPHALT, DID NOT NOTIFY USA. A PG&E GAS SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE WAS ONSITE AT 1042 HOURS. PG&E CREWS WERE ONSITE AT 1126 HOURS AND FLOW OF GAS WAS STOPPED AT 1201 HOURS BY DIGGING AND SQUEEZING THE PLASTIC SERVICE. FIVE CUSTOMERS LOST SERVICE. THERE ARE NO INJURIES, NO FATALITIES. FIRE AND POLICE PERSONNEL WERE ONSITE. THE AREA WAS EVACUATED AND BLOCKED OFF, AND TRAFFIC WAS REROUTED. MAJOR SACRAMENTO NEWS MEDIA (CHANNEL 40 NEWS) WAS OBSERVED ON SITE AT 1245 HOURS. THIS INCIDENT BECAME REPORTABLE TO THE CPUC AND DOT WHEN ESTIMATED DAMAGES WERE EXPECTED TO EXCEED $50,000. (NOTE: THE ADDRESS HAS BEEN CORRECTED FROM 4372 GRESHAM DRIVE TO 4367GRESHAM DRIVE IN THIS PHMSA 7100 SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT.)