Mountaineer Gas Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

PSC Staff Says Water Company Slow To Share Data

The PSC’s staff filed a motion last week to compel West Virginia American Water to provide the information it requested in early December.

The West Virginia Public Service Commission’s staff says West Virginia American Water hasn’t shared the information it requested regarding a November water leak and gas outage in Charleston.

The PSC’s staff filed a motion last week to compel West Virginia American Water to provide the information it requested in early December.

PSC staff had asked the company to reply by Dec. 26. In its filing last week, the PSC staff says West Virginia American Water had failed to provide much of the requested information.

It accused the company of throwing “shade” on the PSC staff’s general investigation of the November event, which left hundreds of West Side residents without gas service, in some cases for weeks.

West Virginia American Water, in a subsequent filing, says a meeting will be scheduled this week with PSC staff to resolve the issues they raised.

In December, Mountaineer Gas sued West Virginia American Water, alleging that water from a broken main on Nov. 10 flooded its gas lines with water.

West Virginia American water has said it’s premature to pin the gas outages on the water main failure. It also said it would cooperate with the PSC investigation.

Water Company Chief Pushes Back On Charleston Gas Outage

Rob Burton told the state legislature on Monday that it’s not certain a broken water main caused hundreds of residents on Charleston’s West Side to lose gas service last month.

Rob Burton, the president of West Virginia American Water, told the state legislature on Monday that it’s not certain a broken water main caused hundreds of residents on Charleston’s West Side to lose gas service last month.

Burton, testifying to the joint standing committee on technology and infrastructure, said the eight-inch iron pipe was installed in 1989 and could be expected to last 80 to 100 years. He said no problems with the pipe had been detected.

“The eight-inch ductile iron main was in good condition, with no history of leaks, repairs or customer issues dating back through our readily available records since 2009,” Burton testified.

From the beginning of the outage on Nov. 10, Gov. Jim Justice has blamed West Virginia American Water for causing it. Mountaineer Gas has sued the water company, and the state Public Service Commission is investigating.

Burton pushed back in his testimony Monday.

“Until there is a full investigation,” he said, “prematurely declaring what caused this incident will not be helpful to prevent such an event in the future.”

Burton said Mountaineer Gas has not provided details about the age and condition of its pipe.

“Does the gas line have a leak history?” Burton asked. “It is also unknown as to which underground utility broke first.”

Burton also said Mountaineer Gas has not explained why it couldn’t isolate more of its gas lines as the water spread through them. Water ultimately got into 46 miles of gas lines and many customers’ household service lines.

West Virginia American Water is offering a reimbursement to affected residents of as much as $2,000, provided they sign a waiver.

The PSC has said its investigation could take 180 to 250 days to complete.

PSC Investigation Of Charleston Gas Outage Could Take Months

In a filing this week, commission staff anticipate the process to take 180 to 250 days.

It could take the West Virginia Public Service Commission at least six months to conduct its investigation into the water main break and widespread gas outage in Charleston last month.

In a filing this week, commission staff anticipate the process to take 180 to 250 days.

Also this week, Mountaineer Gas filed a lawsuit against West Virginia American Water. The gas outage, which affected hundreds of West Side residents, began with a water main break on Nov. 10.

Water flooded miles of gas lines in the neighborhood, cutting service and damaging household appliances.

Mountaineer seeks a ruling from the court that holds the water company responsible for the damages.

A lawsuit was filed last month on behalf of affected residents, seeking class-action status.

The three-week outage overlapped with the Thanksgiving holiday, and many residents lacked heat, hot water or working stoves.

Mountaineer crews worked through the holiday to restore gas service to the neighborhood.

West Side Gas Outage: Mountaineer Gas Files Civil Action Against West Virginia American Water

Mountaineer Gas Company filed a lawsuit against West Virginia American Water Company Monday in response to a three week gas outage on the West Side of Charleston.

When a water main ruptured on Nov. 10, water flooded mountaineer gas lines, leaving around 1,500 residents without access to natural gas.

Hundreds of residents had appliances damaged or destroyed, which Mountaineer Gas is currently having replaced or fixed. Mountaineer Gas blamed the outage on the failure of West Virginia American Water facilities.

“We firmly believe the interruption of gas service to our customers is a direct result of the failure of the West Virginia American Water Company facilities, and we feel West Virginia American Water should be responsible for the significant costs incurred by Mountaineer,” said Senior Vice President Moses Skaff

Mountaineer Gas, in their lawsuit, demanded that all the costs of the gas outage be paid for by the water company.

West Virginia American Water said that any speculation on the cause of its main line water break, or the gas outage is premature until an investigation is complete.

“West Virginia American Water continues to reiterate that any speculation on the cause of its water main break or the Mountaineer Gas outage is premature until an investigation is complete. The company will fully cooperate with the Public Service Commission on its general investigation to determine the cause,” said Megan Hannah, spokesperson for West Virginia American Water.

A Human Trafficking Survivor From W.Va. Shares Her Story, This West Virginia Morning

On this West Virginia Morning, our news department this week has looked at human trafficking in the state. For this final installment, we’ll hear a survivor story.

On this West Virginia Morning, our news department this week has looked at human trafficking in the state. For this final installment, we’ll hear a survivor story.

Also, in this show, Mountaineer Gas said it has restored 100 percent of water-filled gas lines on the West Side of Charleston. But many residents are still without heat, and the outages are taking a toll on the community. Briana Heaney has the story.

West Virginia Morning is a production of West Virginia Public Broadcasting which is solely responsible for its content.

Support for our news bureaus comes from Shepherd University.

Eric Douglas produced this episode.

Listen to West Virginia Morning weekdays at 7:43 a.m. on WVPB Radio or subscribe to the podcast and never miss an episode. #WVMorning

Charleston Officials Ask PSC To Pause Gas And Water Rate Increases

If the PSC approves the increases for both companies, they would take effect in a matter of weeks. City officials want the PSC to at least delay the increases for West Side residents until April 1.

City officials in Charleston want to pause water and gas rate increases for local residents in the wake of recent outages.

Charleston Mayor Amy Goodwin and members of the city council have asked the West Virginia Public Service Commission (PSC) to reject or delay proposed rate increases by West Virginia American Water and Mountaineer Gas.

If the PSC approves the increases for both companies, they would take effect in a matter of weeks. City officials want the PSC to at least delay the increases for West Side residents until April 1.

Hundreds of residents on the West Side lost gas service on Nov. 10 when a high-pressure water main burst, flooding gas lines with water.

As of Tuesday, Mountaineer Gas had restored service to 1,000 customers and about 90 percent of the 46 miles of affected gas lines.