Better reporting, maintenance recommended for gas utilities

The review of what caused the house explosion in 2005 was released reports the Prince George's Gazette.

The report recommended that the county require an annual ‘‘State of the System” report from Washington Gas and Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. outlining their gas system condition and all improvement plans. The report also recommended an annual report of leaks be submitted from those gas providers.

‘‘It is a serious matter ... We pretty much are dealing with a self [enforced] industry,” Estepp said. ‘‘The current practice of allowing the industry to police itself ... we believe should be phased out.”

The report requested that at least three additional inspectors be added under the state Public Service Commission to monitor natural gas distribution. It also recommended giving the county the authority to increase fines from $1,000 to $5,000 for violations of local ordinances. The increase would be aimed at punishing contractors who hit and rupture gas lines but are rarely held accountable.

With the boat loads of money Washington Gas is about to save after outsourcing their customer service department, I think it's time the customers of Washington Gas demand the company outsource its management team. With two house explosions in two years, when is enough enough? Washington Gas does not have their customers' best interests in mind. All the company cares about is rewarding their stockholders.

I hope to god no one will get hurt during the next house explosion, but it's unavoidable because the utility has cut its operations too much to maintain safe and reliable gas distribution within our communities. Will the next disaster be in your neighborhood?

Faced With Fine, WGL Hands Over Copy of Contract

Money quotes from the Washington Post article:

Earlier, WGL had asked for some of the costs in the Accenture contract to be considered in its pending application for a $20.5 million rate increase. That opened the door for the Office and Professional Employees International Union, which represents 160 of the workers who are being laid off, to ask the commission to demand a look at the contract. The commission agreed.

The District's Office of the People's Counsel said it was only the third time the commission had issued sanctions against a local utility. "Washington Gas has flaunted its arrogance before the commission for far too long," Elizabeth A. Noel of People's Counsel said in a statement. "The company has insulted the commission at the expense of ratepayers," she said, adding that the fine was "a clear sign the PSC is standing up to Washington Gas."

I'm glad to see someone is standing up to Washington Gas. We need someone with a backbone to demand accountability from our gas monopoly since the gas utility is only interested in enriching its shareholders on the backs of its employees. When will company's realize their greatest asset they have is their employees. They cannot be replaced like tires on a car. They hold decades of experience. You can't teach someone in a far off country the ins and outs of customer service to a unique community. Now Washington Gas wants its customers to pay for to layoff their neighbors and putting cash in investors' pockets. For shame...

Washington Gas and Light asks D.C. commission to rescind $350,000 penalty

Michael Neibauer writes thin the Examiner:

Washington Gas and Light has asked the District's utility regulator to erase a $350,000 penalty levied against it for ignoring orders to fully disclose an outsourcing contract, arguing the fine is “harsh” and “inappropriate.”

Disclosure of the Accenture contract was required as part of a Washington Gas rate case. It is proposing a 7.7 percent rate increase for its 151,000 D.C. customers. The Office of the People's Counsel and the union representing Washington Gas employees sought the paperwork as part of the case, which is on hold.

The $350 million Accenture deal is expected to save Washington Gas $170 million over the next decade. Roughly 150 union jobs will be lost in the process.

My question to Washington Gas is, why does the gas company need to raise rates if it'll save $170 million over 10 years?
I believe the $170 million should be redistributed to the company's customers instead of the rich stock holders.