The following is a press release issued by Pacific Gas and Electric:
As part of our commitment to providing customers with safe and reliable natural gas service, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) recently completed an internal inspection of our natural gas pipeline between Santa Rosa and Ukiah. These In-Line Inspections are done throughout our natural gas system to support the ongoing safe and reliable delivery of natural gas in Sonoma and Mendocino Counties.
“PG&E is working to further enhance gas pipeline safety throughout its service area, including communities in the North Coast. This gas in-line inspection project ensures that our system continues to provide safe and reliable service that will benefit thousands of Sonoma and Mendocino County customers,” said Dave Canny, Vice President for PG&E’s North Coast Region.
In-Line-Inspection (ILI) technology is PG&E’s preferred method of inspecting our natural gas pipelines. The inspection process, used throughout the gas pipeline industry, uses an innovative tool known as a Pipeline Inspection Gauge (PIG) that travels through the pipeline looking for potential issues that can occur over time, such as dents and corrosion. This is a preferred inspection method because it does not require any digging and minimizes impacts to traffic. Before the inspection begins, temporary devices were installed to maintain the flow of gas, which propel the tool through the pipeline. These devices also help reduce gas emissions and the risk of unplanned interruptions to customers’ gas service.
PG&E’s safety testing began in mid-February and lasted several months. Data collected during the inspections will now be analyzed by PG&E and will be used to inform decisions around updates and repairs to PG&E’s gas system.
Since 2011, PG&E has been rigorously inspecting, replacing, and modernizing pipelines to proactively ensure the safety and reliability of its gas system. Some of the newer technologies applied to the gas system include remote-control and automatic shut-off valves that can stop the flow of gas faster in an emergency, and highly sensitive methane detection sensors that can track microscopic emissions.
Ok…so are we supposed to cheer on PGE for patting themselves on the back for doing the Federally mandated minimum gas line surveys required of all utilities that transmit & distribute natural gas?
“As part of our commitment to providing customers with safe and reliable natural gas service,”
I believe their “commitment” is only to their stockholders and to not end up on Felony Federal Probation AGAIN for murdering their customers through deferred maintenence, malfeasance, misappropriation of funds, and incompetence.
Pge came very close to causing another “San Bruno” event at the bottom of the RV side of the Tomki grade a few years ago, as the so called “leak detectors” failed to alert anyone.
It was only because of the persistence of many community members who, while being poisoned, noticed the intense smell and reported it for weeks, that finally pge responded in force to the massive leak in the Willits supply line.
Fuck pge and their legalized monopoly con artistry.
Ban Investor Owned Utilities.