CONSUMERS ENERGY CO

Incident Narrative

ON SATURDAY, MAY 12, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 04:03 CONSUMERS ENERGY RECEIVED NOTICE FROM 911 OF A GAS RELATED STRUCTURE FIRE AT 46359 HULING, SHELBY TOWNSHIP (MACOMB COUNTY) MICHIGAN. WHEN THE GAS SERVICE WORKER (GSW) ARRIVED ONSITE AT APPROXIMATELY 04:46 THE GAS WAS SHUT-OFF AT THE LOCKWING AND THE EMPLOYEE WAS INFORMED BY FIRE PERSONNEL THE SUSPECTED CAUSE WAS A LIGHTNING STRIKE TO THE METER RESULTING IN A GAS RELEASE AND SUBSEQUENT IGNITION. THE PLASTIC DIALS WERE MELTED OFF THE SPRAGUE175RM METER AND A HOLE APPROXIMATELY 3/8"" HAD FORMED IN THE REGULATOR CONE. THE DAMAGED METER WAS REMOVED AND TRANSPORTED TO THE CONSUMERS ENERGY LABORATORY SERVICES FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION (RESULTS PENDING). A STRIKENET REPORT REQUEST WAS ALSO SUBMITTED WHICH CONFIRMED 5 CLOUD-TO-GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES DETECTED WITHIN 1 MILE OF THE PROPERTY AND THE LIKELY CAUSE OF THE RELEASE AND IGNITION. AN INVESTIGATION OF THE SURROUNDING AREAS WAS CONDUCTED, WHICH INCLUDED A LEAK SURVEY TO ENSURE NO ADDITIONAL NATURAL GAS FACILITIES WERE COMPROMISED AS A RESULT OF THE INCLEMENT WEATHER. CONSUMERS ENERGY LABORATORY SERVICES REPORT WAS COMPLETED ON JULY 6, 2018 A SUMMARY HAS BEEN INCLUDED BELOW: A HOLE AND DISTORTED SURFACE APPEARANCE WAS NOTED ON THE HOUSING. MICROSTRUCTURAL CROSS-SECTION IN THE AREA OF THE HOLE AND AWAY FROM THE HOLE INDICATED THE AFFECTED AREA HAD BEEN THERMALLY AFFECTED. THE CAUSE OF THE METER FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED.