WISCONSIN GAS LLC DBA WE ENERGIES

Incident Narrative

AT 11:51 AM ON 10/14/19, WE ENERGIES WAS NOTIFIED OF A GAS MAIN DAMAGE AT 136 W. ST GEORGE AVE. IN GRANTSBURG, WI. A WE ENERGIES EMPLOYEE WAS DISPATCHED TO THE SCENE. UPON ARRIVAL THE EMPLOYEE FOUND THAT A 3RD PARTY EXCAVATOR HAD STRUCK THE MAIN, RESULTING IN A GAS RELEASE WHICH ALSO IGNITED. NO ONE WAS INJURED OR TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL; HOWEVER, THE NEARBY HOMES WERE DAMAGED BY THE FIRE CAUSING LOSSES BELIEVED TO EXCEED THE $50,000 FEDERAL REPORTING THRESHOLD. SEVERAL HOMES WERE EVACUATED AND THE GRANTSBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO AT THE SCENE PUTTING OUT THE FIRE. AFTER CALLING IN THE 48 HOUR UPDATE, WE WERE PROVIDE WITH A NEW NRC NUMBER, 1261272. THE RELEASE OF GAS WAS STOPPED AT 13:08 BY USING A VALVE AND REMOTE SQUEEZE OF THE PE MAIN. THE PE MAIN IS 2 WAY FED WHICH ALLOWED THE ISOLATED SECTION TO BE CAPPED AND ONLY THE HOUSE AT 136 W ST GEORGE AVE. LEFT WITHOUT SERVICE. THIS PREMISE REMAINS UNINHABITABLE DUE TO THE FIRE DAMAGE. ON NOVEMBER 4, 2019 A FIELD INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED AND THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT WAS CONFIRMED TO BE 3RD PARTY DAMAGE DURING EXCAVATION USING A BACKHOE. THE EXCAVATOR WILL RECEIVE A LETTER AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT FROM WE ENERGIES FREQUENT DAMAGERS PROGRAM. EXCAVATOR WILL ALSO BE REFERRED TO THE WISCONSIN ONE CALL CENTER, DIGGERS HOTLINE, COMPLAINT PROCESS.