SOUTHERN INDIANA GAS & ELECTRIC CO

Incident Narrative

DCI WAS CONTRACTED BY CENTERPOINT INDIANA-ELECTRIC TO INSTALL UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC LINES AND A NEW JUNCTION BOX IN THE GREEN SPACE ACROSS FROM 2710 WINDEMERE DRIVE, EVANSVILLE, INDIANA 47725 (VANDERBURGH COUNTY). DCI HAD SUBCONTRACTED THE EXCAVATION WORK OUT TO EARLEY ELECTRIC. ON MAY 23, 2022, LESTER KNEPP WITH EARLEY ELECTRIC WAS OPERATING A CATERPILLAR 304E MINI EXCAVATOR TO EXPOSE UNDERGROUND ELECTRIC LINES ALONG THE SOUTH SIDE OF WINDEMERE DRIVE. DCI HAD CALLED FOR LOCATES BY CALLING INDIANA 811 AND GOT A LOCATE TICKET # 2205092040 ON MAY 9, 2022. EARLEY ELECTRIC AND MR. KNEPP WERE UNDER THE MISTAKEN IMPRESSION THEY COULD EXCAVATE UNDER DCI'S LOCATE AND THEREFORE DID NOT CALL FOR THEIR OWN LOCATE TICKET. AT APPROXIMATELY 1530HR., MR. KNEPP, WHILE OPERATING THE MINI EXCAVATOR, HIT A 2' PE UNDERGROUND GAS MAIN OWNED AND OPERATED BY SOUTHERN INDIANA GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY D.B.A CENTERPOINT ENERGY INDIANA ' SOUTH. THE GAS MAIN WAS OPERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 58 PSIG. EARLEY ELECTRIC EMPLOYEE AARON SCHROER WITNESSED THE EVENT, STATING MR. KNEPP UPON HITTING THE MAIN, EXITED THE EXCAVATOR LEAVING IT RUNNING. ACCORDING TO MR. SCHROER, THE GAS WAS BLOWING FOR ABOUT 25 SECONDS BEFORE IT IGNITED. MR. SCHROER NOTIFIED 911 IMMEDIATELY AT APPROXIMATELY 1530HRS. MR. SCHROER STATED THEY DID NOT NOTICE THE GAS LOCATE MARKS THAT WERE PART OF DCI'S MAY 9TH LOCATE TICKET. THE LOCATE WAS PERFORMED ON MAY 10, 2022. LOCATE PICTURES FROM THAT DATE SHOW THE GAS FACILITY WERE PROPERLY FLAGGED AND MARKED. AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT, GAS FACILITY LOCATE FLAGS HAD BEEN REMOVED AND MARKS WERE FAINT. CENTERPOINT DISPATCH WAS NOTIFIED BY 911 DISPATCH APPROXIMATELY 1535HRS. CENTERPOINT GAS CREW WAS NOTIFIED AT 1543HRS. AND ARRIVED ON SCENE AT 1615HRS. THE GAS FROM THE MAIN WAS STILL BURNING. THE PE MAIN WAS DUEL FED SO THE CENTERPOINT GAS CREW DUG UP AND EXPOSED THE MAIN ON THE EAST AND WEST SIDE OF THE DAMAGE. THE GAS CREW PERFORMED SQUEEZE OFF OPERATIONS STOPPING THE FLOW OF GAS AND EXTINGUISHING THE FIRE AT 1700HRS. PRIOR TO SQUEEZING OFF, TWO CUSTOMERS WERE TAKEN OUT OF SERVICE SO THAT GAUGES COULD BE INSTALLED. AT THE TIME OF INSTALLATION, THE EAST GAUGE READ 25PSIG WHERE THE WEST SIDE READ 4PSIG. AFTER SQUEEZE OFF, PRESSURE ON BOTH SIDES RETURN TO NEAR NORMAL PRESSURES. CENTERPOINT DISPATCH SENT OUT AN EMAIL ALERTING STAKEHOLDER, INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE INDIANA UTILITY REGULATORY COMMISSION, PIPELINE SAFETY DEPARTMENT OF THE INITIAL REPORT FROM 911 AT 1545HRS. CENTERPOINT PIPELINE SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT WAS IN CONTACT WITH MEMBERS OF THE INDIANA UTILITY REGULATORY COMMISSION, PIPELINE SAFETY DEPARTMENT SHORTLY THEREAFTER. INDIANA UTILITY REGULATORY COMMISSION, PIPELINE SAFETY DEPARTMENT, CHIEF ENGINEER RICH MEDCALF ARRIVED ON SCENE AND INVESTIGATED. LOCAL NEWS MEDIA COVERAGE AS WELL AS MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC POSTED VIDEO OF THE FIRE ON SOCIAL MEDIA SITES. ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DAMAGE, THE MAIN WAS CUT AND CAPPED OFF A SHORT DISTANCE FROM WHERE IT WAS SQUEEZED OFF. IT HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED IF OR WHEN THE MAIN WILL BE RESTORED TO DUAL FED STATUS. CENTERPOINT PIPELINE SAFETY AND COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT LEAD OPERATION SPECIALIST DECIDED TO CONTACT THE NRC, DESPITE THE EVENT NOT MEETING REPORT CRITERIA, DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF ATTENTION AND VIDEO.