PACIFIC GAS & ELECTRIC CO

Incident Narrative

ON JULY 21, 2017 AT 0911 HOURS, PG&ES GAS CONSTRUCTION CREW WAS EXCAVATING TO INSTALL A NEW GAS MAIN AND STRUCK THE EXISTING 3-INCH PLASTIC GAS DISTRIBUTION MAIN RESULTING IN AN UNINTENTIONAL RELEASE OF GAS NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF FIG TREE AND AIRPORT ROAD IN REDDING. THERE WAS A VALID USA TICKET (#X718400466) AND GAS FACILITIES WERE PROPERLY LOCATED & MARKED. THE DIG-IN WAS A RESULT OF NOT EXPOSING THE GAS LINE COMPLETELY USING HANDTOOLS PRIOR TO USING POWER DRIVEN EQUIPMENT. GAS FLOW WAS STOPPED AT 1145 HOURS BY DIGGING AND SQUEEZING THE MAIN RESULTING IN 382 CUSTOMERS WITHOUT GAS SERVICE AND ACTIVATION OF THE OEC AT 1201 HOURS. AT THAT TIME, THIS EVENT WAS DEEMED SIGNIFICANT IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE OPERATOR. FOUR PG&E EMPLOYEES WERE ADMINISTERED FOR POST-ACCIDENT TESTING (PAT). REPAIRS TO THE MAIN WERE COMPLETED AT 1730 HOURS. ALL SERVICES THAT WERE IMPACTED AS A RESULT OF THIS INCIDENT WERE RESTORED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES, NO FATALITIES AND NO IGNITION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT. THERE WAS NO FIRE, POLICE OR MEDIA REPORTED. THIS INCIDENT WAS REPORTED TO THE DOT AT 1300 HOURS (1184823) AND CPUC DUE SIGNIFICANT IN THE JUDGMENT OF THE OPERATOR AND ESTIMATED DAMAGES GREATER THAN $50K. AN UPDATE WAS PROVIDED TO THE DOT ON 7/24/17 (1185098).