STATE OF MAINE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

 

THOMAS L. WELCH HARRY LANPHEAR
CHAIRMAN ADMINISTRATIVE DIRECTOR

DAVID P. LITTELL
MARK VANNOY
COMMISSIONERS

December 29, 2014

Mr. Michael Minkos

President

Summit Natural Gas of Maine

442 Civic Center Drive, Suite 100

Augusta, ME 04330 Ma E-Mail and US Mail)

Re: THE INVESTIGATION OF ELECTROFUSION TEES
Dear Mr. Minkos:

On July 11, 2014 I issued a Notice of Probable Violation (NOPV), Docket No. 2014?
00221, regarding the failure to follow procedures during the installation of electrofusion tees.
The NOPV included conditions requiring the removal of certain electrofusion tees and a
testing program for others; including the reporting of the results.

By telephone call of Thursday, December 18, 2014, Mr. Keith Lincoln informed me of ..
two recent situations involving electrofusion tees installed by C08:

1. A tee blew off the main on Lawrence Avenue in Fairfield as gas was being
introduced to the main; and

2. On the following day a tee installation was found to be leaking when a
segment of main was being tested in Waterville.

Mr. Lincoln then informed me that SNGME has placed a stop work order on the crew
that installed the above noted tee in Fairfield, and SNGME determined that the above noted
tee in Waterville was installed by a different crew. He added that this has prompted SNGME
to implement an investigation of all tees installed by 400 tees have been identified.

Beginning Friday, January 2, 2015 please include all excavations for the investigation
of tees, installed by CCB, on the weekly operations schedule which is already being
provided to us.

Beginning on January 9, 2015 please file reports by the close of business every other
Friday, regarding the status of all electrofusion tee investigations. These reports shall
include the following, categorized by contractor:

- The location and installation date of each tee subject to investigation;

LOCATION: 101 Second Street, HallowelL ME 04347 MAIL: 18 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333?0018
PHONE: (207) 287?3 831 (VOICE) ITY: 1?800?43 7?1220 FAX: (207) 287-1039

Mr. Michael Minkos
Page 2 December 29, 2014

The date of each tee?s visual inspection;

0 The pass or fail results of each tee?s visual inspection;

0 A description of the reason for any visual inspection failure;

a The status of whether each tee was removed or allowed to remain in place;

0 The results of any subsequent testing done any tees and associated facilities
removed from service; and

A description of any other deleterious findings when inspecting and/or testing
the tees;

Because there still appear to be tees failing due to workmanship issues, it is evident
that the training and quali?cation, required by the July 11, 2014 NOPV, and 
construction inspection efforts, have been ineffective. By the close of business on Friday,
January 16, 2014, please provide a report to include the following:

0 Why, after the initial discovery of improperly installed tees, did Quality
Assurance and Quality Control plan and the inspection process not catch
subsequent improper installations;

Corrective actions to be taken to ensure that all materials are installed in
accordance with procedures; and

a A summary of any other systematic investigations SNGME may be conducting
regarding other types of fittings, based on findings, and related to specific
contractors and/or crews.

Sincerely,

Gary . Kenny, P.E. 45?
Gas Safety Manager

 
 

cc: 8. Fitts (via e-mail)
K. Lincoln (via e?mail)
B. Madore (via e?mail)