Gas Utility Operations Best Practices Program October 30-31, 2013 Gas Utility Operations Best Practices Program Meter Set Protection Workshop AGA Headquarters, Washington, DC Group Discussion Summary – Vehicular Damage Facilitator – Lisa Hurley, Pacific Gas & Electric

www.aga.org Note: The AGA Operations Best Practices Program is intended to highlight how particular companies may address a specific operational issue and may not include all of the data related to a highlighted practice. The need to implement and the timing of any implementation of highlighted practices will vary with each operator. Each operator serves a unique and defined geographic area and their system infrastructures vary widely based on a multitude of factors, including, condition, engineering practices and materials. Each operator needs to evaluate highlighted practices in light of their system variables. Not all highlighted practices will be applicable to all operators due to the unique set of circumstances that are attendant to their specific systems. Companies are not ranked through this program and no one practice is identified as the best for a particular topic. Copyright & Distribution: Copyright © 2013 American Gas Association. All rights reserved. The AGA Gas Utility Operations Best Practices Program publications are copyrighted, confidential and proprietary to AGA and only available on the member-restricted side of the AGA website. Permission to reproduce or transmit in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system any publication or portion of a publication must be obtained in writing from the AGA General Counsel’s Office, GCO@aga.org. AGA Full, Limited and International Members are granted a limited license to reproduce this publication for internal business purposes but not for regulatory or civil matters.

Q2. How do you determine which meters should be protected within your system? - Practices 3’ guideline from driveways or specified vehicular area (new services, new meter set, or where an issue has occurred) 8’ perpendicular to road or end of parking area/loading dock; 5’ parallel to road Commercial: 8’ from any paved area without a curb May not need protection if there is a continuous square curb about 6” in height parallel to meter Note: Depends on location (road or driveway, if meter is near building or away from building, hard to evacuate building, farming area, if high snow mobile or ATV location), how many customers would be out if impacted, if residential or commercial, number of meters on service, obstructions (walls, trees, natural barriers)

Practice: 3’ guideline from driveways or parking area Q2. How do you determine which meters should be protected within your system? Practice: 3’ guideline from driveways or parking area Benefits Considerations for Implementation May be easier to implement for new lines or replaced meters. Could be a condition for service Existing meters should be considered under DIMP Impact to driveway/parking lot; type and size of protection One option may be to increase the visibility of the meter or bollard Ingress or egress at home (where meter is in a location where placing protection may hinder access to home) Who pays? Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) Washington Gas, National Fuel, DTE, PG&E, Southwest Gas, Vermont Gas, South Jersey Gas, PSE&G, Union Gas, Enbridge, UGI

Q2. How do you determine which meters should be protected within your system? Practice: 8’ perpendicular to end of parking area, loading dock, commercial area, industrial area or multi-family Benefits Considerations for Implementation Vehicles using the area Curbs, natural or man-made barriers protecting the meter Sloping Use of a larger, stronger bollard Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) Columbia Gas of VA, PG&E, Washington Gas, Southwest Gas, Enbridge, Vermont Gas; other companies may or may not have a specific dimension for separation

Practice: 5’ parallel to uncurbed road Q2. How do you determine which meters should be protected within your system? Practice: 5’ parallel to uncurbed road Benefits Considerations for Implementation If there are other barriers Speed traveled on the road Where it is located on the road (straight portion or bend) Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) Xcel, Columbia of VA, Philadelphia Gas Works, Southwest Gas, Questar, Enbridge

During normal operation and maintenance activities Q5. How do existing meters typically get identified as being vulnerable to vehicular damage? What is your company’s policy for relocating or protecting existing meters? - Practices During normal operation and maintenance activities Incidents and damages (current and past) Service or mainline renewals Customer request Regulator inspector orders (regulatory inspections) Home owner inspections and insurance companies Local code enforcement

Practice: During normal operation and maintenance activities Q5. How do existing meters typically get identified as being vulnerable to vehicular damage? What is your company’s policy for relocating or protecting existing meters? Practice: During normal operation and maintenance activities Benefits Considerations for Implementation Identification of abnormal operating conditions Training of individuals conducting the identification Cost recovery on how the meter is protected (customer pays if they choose the location) QA/QC of individuals performing the identification Resources (personnel, materials, etc.) Prioritization Note: Underground utility locating contractors are a good resource Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) Most

Practice: Incidents and damages indicate potentially vulnerable meters Q5. How do existing meters typically get identified as being vulnerable to vehicular damage? What is your company’s policy for relocating or protecting existing meters? Practice: Incidents and damages indicate potentially vulnerable meters Benefits Considerations for Implementation Analysis of previous damages provides additional information for DIMP Current damages may result in actions, based on analysis of the incident Not all damages indicate that protection is needed Type of facility can lead to prioritization Note: Billing the at fault party can deter future incidents Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) Most

Practice: Call from customer, insurance, regulator or other inspector Q5. How do existing meters typically get identified as being vulnerable to vehicular damage? What is your company’s policy for relocating or protecting existing meters? Practice: Call from customer, insurance, regulator or other inspector Benefits Considerations for Implementation Is protection needed based on company policy and independent analysis Who pays? Priorities – Where does this fall into the work queue? Who is requesting may be a consideration Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) Most

EFVs at curb or at the riser Q7. What other methods are companies using in place of bollards or barricades to enhance safety? - Practices EFVs at curb or at the riser Pre-fabricated aluminum plates bolted to building Meter boxes Meter relocation Alcoves Natural barriers Location of meter when placing a new meter

Practice: EFVs at the curb or at the riser Q7. What other methods are companies using in place of bollards or barricades to enhance safety? Practice: EFVs at the curb or at the riser Benefits Considerations for Implementation The material of the service line Pressure Customer type Size Priority Training personnel to install or hiring of contractor Can also be installed at time of service line break/damage Note: This may be a low cost solution Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) EFV at curb: All (new residential), some of small commercial and multi-family EFV at riser: Union Gas

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