1. Director of Customer Distribution Deliverability & Planning
AGA Distribution Best Practices Program Valve Inspection and Maintenance Potential Roundtable Executive Presentation
Mike Romein
Director of Customer Distribution Deliverability & Planning

2. Company Background Metrics Number of Customers Miles of Main
~ 1.7 million
Miles of Main
~ 26,000
Number of Services
~ 1.5 million
Number of Employees
~ 2350

3. Challenges Compliance Safety Budget Productivity
Company commitment to be 100% Compliant
Required documentation for audits, incidents, etc.
Safety
Employee safety in the field
Public safety
Budget
Desire to reduce O&M
Schedule management
Productivity
Reduce amount of time/inspection
Reduce amount of maintenance required
Schedule management – more oversight of where and when surveyors are going in the field

4. Unique/Beneficial Processes
Identification of Required Valves
Valves Required by Code
Retire other valves vs. inspect and maintain
Other methods to shut off gas
squeezing
Inspection Frequency
Yearly Inspection
Turning valves regularly
Employee Skilling
Vendor Training
Ride Along with Senior Employees
Service location – picture of the service comes up with each record. Before, required surveyor to find on paper, or follow alternate process, if they had no service location record. When the service record is not available, our standards require a more complete survey of the yard in order to ensure the entire service has been covered. This results in additional time for the surveyor. Also makes it easy to resolve location questions.
Electronic Documentation – Surveyors don’t need to carry forms, track paper, return to truck, etc. All required information is on the device. In addition, when a leak is found, a few clicks are all that is necessary. The old process required much more time and effort on the surveyors part, and was less reliable regarding the ability to track and measure.
Safety – audible alert, visual alert, and also the ability to look at the day’s workload and determine where the threats/dogs/other hazards may be located.

5. Unique/Beneficial Processes
Capital Spending
Replacement of Valves
Recurring problems
O&M vs. Capital
Productivity
Hydraulic Greaser
Schedule
Late Spring / Early Summer
RegCon Handheld
Documentation of Data
Issue Reporting
Service location – picture of the service comes up with each record. Before, required surveyor to find on paper, or follow alternate process, if they had no service location record. When the service record is not available, our standards require a more complete survey of the yard in order to ensure the entire service has been covered. This results in additional time for the surveyor. Also makes it easy to resolve location questions.
Electronic Documentation – Surveyors don’t need to carry forms, track paper, return to truck, etc. All required information is on the device. In addition, when a leak is found, a few clicks are all that is necessary. The old process required much more time and effort on the surveyors part, and was less reliable regarding the ability to track and measure.
Safety – audible alert, visual alert, and also the ability to look at the day’s workload and determine where the threats/dogs/other hazards may be located.

6. Unique/Beneficial Processes
MPSC Agreement
Valve Maintenance/Repair
Long lead times
Alternate plan filed
Synthetic Grease
Mobilith Shc 220
Buried valves
Allows for optimum operation
Records Accuracy
Reviewed Locally
Record updates/changes
Service location – picture of the service comes up with each record. Before, required surveyor to find on paper, or follow alternate process, if they had no service location record. When the service record is not available, our standards require a more complete survey of the yard in order to ensure the entire service has been covered. This results in additional time for the surveyor. Also makes it easy to resolve location questions.
Electronic Documentation – Surveyors don’t need to carry forms, track paper, return to truck, etc. All required information is on the device. In addition, when a leak is found, a few clicks are all that is necessary. The old process required much more time and effort on the surveyors part, and was less reliable regarding the ability to track and measure.
Safety – audible alert, visual alert, and also the ability to look at the day’s workload and determine where the threats/dogs/other hazards may be located.

7. Highlights that would be included in Roundtable Presentation
RegCon Handheld
Current usage and operation
Future plans – new functionality
MPSC Agreement
Additional discussion on process and approvals when valve replacement is necessary
Productivity / Safety Enhancements
Hydraulic Greaser
Ergonomic Tool discussion
Process Management / Oversight
Local Process Owner / Regulation Field Leader
System Process Owner
System Regulation Notes & Processes
Two waivers that assist – inside meter leak survey and copper yard portion 5 year rather than 3

8. Conclusion Valve Maintenance & Inspection Success Over Time
RegCon Handheld Device
Productivity of Employees
Capital vs. O&M Decisions
Unique Processes / Program Decisions
Records Quality
Success Over Time
Valve Replacements
Employee Training
Use of Equipment
Vision to the Future
Technology Upgrades / GIS
In 2010, we did approximate 380,000 services with only 1 past due leak survey.

9. Questions