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 – Other Outside Force Damages Facilitator – Robert Hayden, Washington Gas

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.

(Note: “Other” outside force damage to meter sets is viewed by the group as damages due to ice/snow, flooding, mulching, gardening, lawn maintenance, and electrical arcing)

Q2. Does your company have an educational campaign to alert customers on practices that often lead to meter set damages? What type of material is being provided? Practice: Provide education through mailers, bill inserts, web communications, media. Ideal to share information just before the winter season on keeping vents clear, using a broom (instead of shovel) to clear snow, telling customers not to pile snow on top of the meter and to keep eaves clear of ice buildup. Notify homeowners of potential consequences, if proper care not taken. Practice: For summer season, revise the communication to address the threat of lawn care equipment. Public service announcements can also help for getting messages out. Practice: Targeted mailing educating customers on keeping mulch away from meter sets. (Puget) Practice: Use media, radio and website and mailers to warn people of possible flooding conditions during flooding that might impact gas safety and meter operation. (PSE&G) Benefits Considerations for Implementation Also impacts employee and customer safety by ensuring accessibility to meter after snowstorms May be different from one company to another based on geography (weather) View company information and videos posted to their website Inside vs. outside meters Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) (All)

Q3. Are companies pro-actively addressing meters that may be prone to heavy snow/ice or addressing them as incidents arise? If pro-active measures are being taken, how do you determine which meters to protect? Practice: Extending vent risers, raising meters to higher elevations Practice: Installing meter covers for higher risk situations (for example, metal sided buildings with flat roof lines) Practice: Create a standard “meter shelter design” in higher elevation areas for new installations and relocations (Southwest Gas) Practice: Install regulator vent covers Practice: Meter-specific information may impact the decision to add protection. For instance, presence of a pressure regulator (and its location) and single vs. multiple meters on manifold Practice: Inserting EFV (at the riser) could address some instances where there is a severe damage to meter set from an outside force Practice: Upon new service initiation, install meter on the gable or non-drip side of the structure. (Xcel, Puget, Vermont Gas) Practice: Establishing responsibility of customer to pay for damages occurring due to icicles or heavy ice falling on meter set.

Q3. Are companies pro-actively addressing meters that may be prone to heavy snow/ice or addressing them as incidents arise? If pro-active measures are being taken, how do you determine which meters to protect? Benefits Considerations for Implementation Some customers like the meter covers (purely for aesthetics) Demonstrates the company’s commitment to safety Some companies may not have as high of a risk of snow/ice Policy for Payment and possible cost recovery (tariff - - residential vs. commercial) For more information on practices and company standard/criteria which would warrant snow loading protection, see AGA survey conducted Nov 2012 on snow loading protection survey Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) All

Q4. Do you allow homeowner/property owner to design and install protection? If yes, who approves designs? How do you assure it isn’t altered or removed by current or future homeowner? Practice: Meter shed (or meter shelter) designed and installed by customer is allowed as long as meter is sufficiently vented and is easily accessible by the utility. Field Employees typically are instructed to look for changes to assure the protection is not removed. Benefits Considerations for Implementation Customer satisfaction is higher with the outcome since they are involved Advise customer of costs if utility has to respond, if something happens Utility may help cover cost of a meter cover for existing customers which have meter sets identified as higher risk Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) Vermont Gas, SW Gas, PSE&G, Questar, GazMetro, Union Gas, Puget Sound Energy, National Fuel, PGW

Q5. Do companies actively dig out meters buried in snow for meter reading or emergency access? Practice: Not pro-actively digging out meters after large snow storm, except for emergencies as needed. (However, as part of meter reading, snow removal is regularly done around the meter in order to get the meter read at National Fuel Gas)

Q6. How is the threat of lawnmowers and weed trimming tools managed Q6. How is the threat of lawnmowers and weed trimming tools managed? Are there specific messages for landscapers or homeowners? Practice: Educate the public by sending out information on the potential of meter damages due to lawn care tools and equipment. Practice: Install riser sleeves only where above grade through hard surfaces (Vermont Gas , DTE Gas and Enbridge) Practice: For farm taps, install guard posts to address tractor mowers Benefits Considerations for Implementation Pipeline markers may also be used as a form of protection Sign showing phone number of gas utility in case of damage Companies that utilize this practice (or parts thereof) Many for 1st and 3rd practice

www.aga.org The American Gas Association, founded in 1918, represents more than 200 local energy companies that deliver clean natural gas throughout the United States. There are more than 71 million residential, commercial and industrial natural gas customers in the United States, of which 92% — more than 65 million customers — receive their gas from AGA members. Today, natural gas meets almost one-fourth of the United States’ energy needs.