Aging infrastructure? Where’s it a
problem and what’s the fix?
New England Gas Workers Association
Mark McDonald
President
Problem Here?
10% LEL
10/23/2011 6:20 PM
The Problem?
• Treatment of “non-hazardous” gas leaks
• A “numbness” of gas leaks
• Drastically reduced staffing levels
• Predicting the unpredictable
• A “blind eye” approach to the solution
Treatment of
“Non-Hazardous” Leaks
• They get worse over time.
• Many leaks left unrepaired for decades!
• Many costs associated with maintaining:
– Annual re-checks
– Repeat response to odor complaints
– Hundreds of millions lost annually across U.S.
– Greenhouse gas (GHG) damage to our
environment
GHG Facts
• Methane is 21 times more potent than CO2 Carbon Dioxide
• Fugitive methane takes 12 years to dissipate, versus
between 50 and 200 years for CO2.
• Methane has increased by 150 percent since the mid1700s; while CO2 has risen by "just" 35 percent.
• In 2009: Distribution pipeline leaks accounted for over 40
billion cubic feet in the United States!
• Annual methane greenhouse gas emissions = 48.25
million passenger vehicles
Background: Distribution Sector Methane
Emissions (72 Bcf)
Protected Steel
Mains/Services
4 Bcf
Customer
Meter Leaks
6 Bcf
Other
Sources
3 Bcf
Bcf = billion cubic feet
M&R Stations
18 Bcf
Plastic
Mains/Services
6 Bcf
Cast Iron
Mains
8 Bcf
Regulator Stations
11 Bcf
Unprotected Steel
Mains/Services
16 Bcf
Source: EPA. Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks 1990 – 2009. April, 2011. Available on the Web at:
www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html.
6
Are we getting “numb” to leaks?
22 Gas Leak Calls
In the 4 years prior
to the explosion.
8 Gas leak calls
the month prior
to the explosion.
7
Staffing Levels
• Significant reductions since deregulation (1998
Massachusetts)
• Employees with decades of service:
“We do much less preventative work than we used to!”
• Less home/business visits due to:
–
–
–
–
–
technology
“un-bundling” services (exiting heating repair)
Sub-contracting work to less experienced workers
Chasing the “worst” leaks!
Less preventative leak repairs (Grade 3’s)
More Customers &
(Source: AGA Gas Facts)
Residential Customers Per Employee
Gas Distribution Companies (1971-2004)
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
1971
1975
1979
1983
1987
1991
1995
1999
2003
Less Workers
Gas Company Employees U.S. (thousands)
160
155
150
145
140
135
130
125
120
n
gu
r- e
98
19
De
l
io
at
99
19
00
20
01
20
02
20
03
20
04
20
05
20
06
20
07
20
Less leaks repaired…YET
The system is getting worse?
Predicting the unpredictable
Winter Patrols need to be mandated
“What’s the fix?”
RATES
• Redesign rate recovery for “a call to action”
“Low returns create incentives for (LDC’s) to avoid
discretionary investment”
• Regulators have the control for change!
 “Decoupling” “Replacement Recovery” “Efficiency Programs”
Massachusetts ratepayers spent $65 million on gas
efficiency but saved less than ½ the amount of gas
leaked out of the pipeline in (2010)!
A “blind eye” approach
to the solution
“Replacement will solve all our problems”
Maybe tomorrow’s solution, not today’s - alone!
• Risks associated with rush to replace?




Incorrect installations
Collective failure for future generations
Locating difficulties
More plastic…more 3rd party hits – are we trading off hazards?
It’s too late to make up for lost time on
past replacement….
THANK YOU!
New England Gas Workers Association
Mark McDonald
874 South St.
Boston, MA,
[email protected]