1. 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

2.
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, 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.

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13.
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.