Rhode Island Code of Regulations
Title 815 - Division of Public Utilities and Carriers
Chapter 20 - Natural Gas and Jurisdictional Propane
Subchapter 00 - N/A
Part 1 - Standards for Gas Utilities, Master Meter Systems and Jurisdictional Propane Systems (815-RICR-20-00-1)
Section 815-RICR-20-00-1.10 - Abandonment of Gas Services

1. All non-plastic and non-cathodically-protected steel inactive service lines and service stubs shall be abandoned within five (5) years, unless such lines have been reactivated prior to that time.

2. All plastic and cathodically-protected steel inactive service lines shall be physically disconnected (cut off) within close proximity of a property line within five (5) years.

3. The LDC should determine whether inactive service lines ought to be abandoned at any prior time. The determination shall be based on such appropriate variables as service line age, location, condition, material, construction methods, leak and maintenance history of the pipe, existence and/or application of cathodic protection, individual and property-owner requests and other criteria selected by the LDC.

1. Notwithstanding the above, inactive service lines, which shall be abandoned promptly, are those:

1. Readily accessible records of inactive service lines and service stubs shall be maintained by the LDC which shall include the type of pipe material, the service line's location, the date the service line became inactive, and the date the service line was installed. If any information is unavailable to or unobtainable by the LDC, it shall be listed on the record as "unknown".