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Pipeline Safety

The CPUC ensures that the state's natural gas pipeline systems are designed, constructed, operated, and maintained according to safety standards set by the CPUC and the federal government. CPUC gas safety inspectors are trained and certified by the federal government. The CPUC enforces safety regulations, inspects utility work, and makes necessary additions and changes to regulations for promoting the safety of the public and the utility employees that work on the gas pipeline systems.

The CPUC endorses the system safety approach embodied in the federal government’s regulation of pipeline and hazardous materials safety. State and federal regulators are tasked with ensuring that pipeline and hazardous materials operators have risk management programs in place, that those programs are designed in conformance with state and federal laws, that the programs are effective in achieving safety for the public and the employees of the operator, and that the entire system of achieving safety continues to improve itself.

The CPUC conducts compliance inspections, accident investigations, reviews utilities’ reports and records, conducts construction inspections, conducts special studies, and takes action in response to complaints and inquiries from the public on issues regarding gas pipeline safety.

The CPUC also conducts audits and inspections of gas facilities owned and operated by mobile home parks, and audits and inspections of underground propane gas distributions systems.


RECENT NEWS

 

 

Reporting Unsafe Conditions

Report unsafe conditions to the CPUC by calling the whistleblower hotline at 1-800-649-7570 or by email to safetyhotline@cpuc.ca.gov.

Gas Utilities

The CPUC oversees the operation of the three investor-owned utilities who serve natural gas to the bulk of California residents and businesses: Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).

The CPUC is taking numerous steps to ensure public safety in the immediate and longer-term.  The CPUC regularly performs physical inspections and audits practices and procedures developed by gas utilities.  The utilities also perform audits and report to the CPUC on an ongoing basis practices, procedures, and progress on a variety of issues.

Mobile Home Parks

The CPUC regulates propane and natural gas collection and distribution in mobile home parks.

One-Call System

The CPUC urges consumers and contractors to call 8-1-1 to have pipelines marked before beginning any work that involves digging into the ground.

PHMSA-Pipeline Safety Community

NAPSR-National Association of Pipeline Safety Representatives







Last Modified: 4/2/2013