Southern California Gas Co. officials said Thursday they want to speed up the utility’s pipeline replacement and leak repair program and have submitted a funding plan to the California Public Utilities Commission.
If approved by the CPUC, SoCalGas pledged to repair all currently identified, pending non-hazardous leaks in its system by the end of 2018 or earlier.
The company also filed a report with the CPUC outlining its leak management practices in compliance with Senate Bill 1371. The new California law seeks to reduce methane emissions from natural gas transmission, distribution and storage systems. It also requires utilities to report information about leak management practices, new leaks, leaks being monitored, leaks scheduled for repair and a “best estimate” of gas loss due to leaks.
“SoCalGas has a longstanding commitment to reducing methane emissions, and we are proud to have one of the lowest natural gas leak rates of any utility in the nation,” said SoCalGas CEO Bret Lane.
— City News Service