PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO

Incident Narrative

ON 12/06/17 AT APPROXIMATELY 1223 HOURS, PG&E WAS NOTIFIED OF A THIRD PARTY DIG IN AT 4255 SHERIDAN ROAD, SUNOL. THE PROPERTY OWNER WAS EXCAVATING A FIRE ROAD USING A D6 BULLDOZER AND STRUCK L-131 (MILE POINT 45.3), A 24' STEEL TRANSMISSION LINE, CAUSING AN UNINTENTIONAL RELEASE OF GAS. THE PROPERTY OWNER DID NOT HAVE A VALID USA TICKET. PG&E GSR ARRIVED ON SITE AT 1240 HOURS AND THE M&C SUPERVISOR ARRIVED ON-SITE AT 1250 HOURS. THE FLOW OF GAS WAS STOPPED AT APPROXIMATELY 1305 HOURS BY REMOTELY CLOSING ISOLATION VALVES LOCATED AT MP 38.72 AND 46.32. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT REMAINED ON SITE UNTIL THE RELEASE OF GAS STOPPED. APPROXIMATELY 11 SERVICES LOST GAS DUE TO THE DIG IN AND 80 CUSTOMERS WERE SHUT IN PROACTIVELY. CNG WAS BROUGHT IN TO SUPPLY AFFECTED CUSTOMERS. AS OF 12/9/17 ALL CUSTOMERS EXCEPT VACANT HOMES AND BUSINESS WERE RESTORED. ON 12/8/17, PG&E REMOVED THE DAMAGED PORTION OF PIPELINE . THESE SECTIONS OF PIPELINE WERE SENT TO AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEERING FIRM (EXPONENT) FOR METALLURGICAL ANALYSIS. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, NO FATALITIES, NO MEDIA AND NO IGNITION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT . THIS INCIDENT IS BEING REPORTED TO THE DOT (1199008) AND THE CPUC DUE TO DAMAGES ESTIMATED TO EXCEED $50,000. AN UPDATE WAS PROVIDED TO THE DOT (1199102) ON 12/7/17.