PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO

Incident Narrative

ON APRIL 22, 2013 AT APPROXIMATELY 0822 HOURS, PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC (PG&E) WAS NOTIFIED THAT A THIRD PARTY CONTRACTOR WAS PERFORMING ROAD PAVEMENT ACTIVITIES WHEN THE OPERATOR OF A ROAD GRINDER STRUCK A 3-INCH STEEL GAS DISTRIBUTION MAIN, CAUSING A RELEASE OF GAS. THE GAS IGNITED AND THE ROAD GRINDER CAUGHT FIRE RESULTING IN OVER $50,000 OF DAMAGE TO THE EXCAVATOR'S EQUIPMENT. PG&E ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 0850 HOURS AND STOPPED THE FLOW OF GAS AT 1111 HOURS BY DIGGING AND ISOLATING THE STEEL MAIN WITH PRESSURE CONTROL FITTINGS. THE CONTRACTOR HELD A VALID USA TICKET (#140210) FOR THE AREA WHERE THE MAIN WAS STRUCK AND THE GAS FACILITIES WERE PROPERLY LOCATED AND MARKED, BUT THE CONTRACTOR FAILED TO HAND DIG, EXPOSE AND PROTECT THE GAS MAIN PRIOR TO DIGGING WITH MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO FATALITIES AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT. OUT OF AN ABUNDANCE OF CAUTION, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EVACUATED SEVEN HOMES AND 12 CUSTOMERS EXPERIENCED GAS SERVICE INTERRUPTION. GAS SERVICE TO ALL AFFECTED CUSTOMERS WAS RESTORED BY 2345 HOURS. THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE CPUC AND DOT BECAUSE THE COST OF DAMAGES IS ABOVE $50,000.