West Virginia Code of State Rules
Agency 150 - Public Service Commission
Title 150 - EXEMPT LEGISLATIVE RULE PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
Series 150-04 - Government of Gas Utilities and Gas Pipeline Safety
Section 150-4-5 - Engineering Requirements

5.1.1.a. Each utility shall at all times construct and maintain its entire plant and system in such condition that it will furnish safe, adequate and continuous service.

5.1.1.b. The standards as set out by the United States Department of Transportation entitled "Transportation of Natural and Other Gas by Pipeline: Minimum Safety Standards" and amendments thereto, as published in Title 49 CFR Parts 191 and 192, shall be accepted as standards for construction and the maintenance of safe and adequate service.

5.3.3.a. In case the amount of "lost and unaccounted for" gas is not determined from measurement, the utility shall make pressure drop tests each year on selected lines in the production and/or transmission system. The 3-inch equivalent length of lines or lines tested shall be not less than five percent (5%) of the total miles of 3-inch equivalent main in such systems.

5.3.3.b. In selecting lines for pressure drop tests, the utility shall consult with the Public Service Commission regarding locations for making such tests, and shall advise the Commission of the time and place such tests are to be made in order that the Commission may send a representative to witness the test, if it so desires.

5.4.4.a. Installation -- The customer, or the customer's designee, shall furnish and install the necessary pipe to make connection from the company service provided by the utility at the property line abutting the utility's main, to the inlet of the meter. The customer service piping shall be installed by the customer in accordance with the utility's safety requirements for such installation. The utility's safety requirements are set forth in its tariff as required pursuant to Rule 8.3., infra. In the installation of customer service piping, the customer must not install any tees or branch connections. Further, if plastic piping is installed, tracer wire and warning tape for direct burial must be used so that the plastic line may be readily located.

5.4.4.b. Inspection and connection by utility -- The customer, or the customer's designee, must leave the trench open and pipe uncovered until the customer service piping is inspected by an individual on behalf of the utility who has been determined to be qualified by the utility for such inspection tasks in compliance with 49 C.F.R. part 192, and is shown to be free of any irregularity or defect. The customer service piping must be connected at each end and tested by the utility, or the utility's designee, prior to initiation of service.

5.4.4.c. Maintenance -- The customer service piping is sometimes owned by the customer, and other times owned by the utility. The customer shall not make any change in or interfere with the customer service piping without the utility's approval. The customer shall keep the customer service piping in good repair, if the customer owns the customer service piping. Regardless of who owns the customer service piping, the utility shall operate and maintain the customer service piping. For purposes of this rule, operation and maintenance shall include

5.5.1.a. Whenever an extension of a utility's distribution system is necessary in order that an applicant or group of applicants may receive service in the territory within which the utility operates, the utility shall extend its mains, without cost to the applicant or applicants, for a distance of 100 feet for each applicant who actually takes the service when gas is available.

5.5.1.b. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit a utility from making, at its expense, longer free extensions than herein prescribed, should its judgment so dictate, provided like free extensions are made to other applicants under similar conditions.

5.5.2.a. The utility shall build the entire extension at its own cost.

5.5.2.b. The total construction cost of the extension shall be determined in accordance with the Commission's classification of accounts for gas utilities, and from such total construction cost there shall be deducted:

5.5.2.c. The remaining cost shall be used as a base for determining the surcharge.

5.5.2.d. The cost per foot of the extension shall be based upon the average installed cost per foot for the entire extension after deducting the items enumerated in Rule 5.5.2.b.1. and Rule 5.5.2.b.2.

5.5.2.e. The total surcharge shall be twelve percent (12%) per annum of the surcharge base.

5.5.2.f. The twelve percent (12%) per annum shall be equally divided between all customers: Provided, however, that in case an industrial or commercial customer desires to be served from the proposed extension, such customer shall assume that proportion of the twelve percent (12%) per annum which is represented by the ratio of such customer's estimated annual consumption to the total estimated annual consumption of all customers on the proposed extension. The remainder the monthly surcharge shall be divided between the remaining customers.

5.5.2.g. In order to limit the number of different surcharges, all monthly surcharges shall be adjusted to the nearest five (5) cents.

5.5.2.h. Surcharges will be adjusted downward only, at the end of each calendar year, to adjust for additional customers who have been added to the extension during the year. Such adjustment of surcharges shall be continued until the computed surcharge is to two and one-half (2 ½) cents or less, at which time the extension attains the status of a free extension, and the surcharge shall be discontinued entirely.

5.5.4.a. When an extension of the utility's mains, to serve an applicant or group of applicants, amounts to more than two hundred (200) feet per customer, the total cost of the excess footage over two hundred (200) feet per customer shall be deposited with the utility by the applicant or applicants, or through their authorized agent, based on the average estimated cost per foot of the total extension. This deposit shall be subject to refund as hereinafter provided. Each customer receiving gas service from such extension will be billed under rates plus the surcharge applicable as set forth herein above.

5.5.4.b. At the end of each calendar year, for a period of ten years, the utility will refund to the customer or customers, or their duly authorized agent, who paid for the excess footage over 200 feet per customer, the cost of additional footage over 200 feet of pipe, in place, but not to exceed 200 feet for each additional customer, as of December 31, each year, but in no case shall the total amount refunded exceed the amount paid the utility. After ten (10) years no refund will be made. No reduction in surcharge will be made until all parties who paid for the extension over two hundred (200) feet per customer have been reimbursed, or until ten (10) years have elapsed since completion of construction, and when either of such occurrences shall take place then Rule 5.5.2.h. hereof shall apply.

5.5.4.c. Each additional customer added to the extension after original surcharge has been established, shall pay the applicable surcharge.

5.5.9.a. The utility may be relieved by the Commission from making extensions under the foregoing rule after presenting to the Commission data showing the purposes for the proposed extension to be of a temporary, unreliable or intermittent nature or if unusual conditions make the cost of the extension economically prohibitive.

5.5.9.b. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to prohibit a utility from making extension of mains under difference arrangements, should its judgment so dictate, provided the above rule is fully explained to the applicant or applicants, and like arrangements are made to other applicant or applicants under similar conditions.

5.5.10.a. If an extension is made to an existing extension, subject to surcharge, and the surcharge computed for the new extension is equal to or less than the surcharge on the existing extension, the existing extension and the addition thereto shall be considered as one extension and a new surcharge shall be determined which will be applicable to all customers on the combined extensions.

5.5.10.b. An extension to an extension which requires surcharges greater than those prevailing on the extension from which it originates, will be considered as a separate extension. When the surcharges become equal, the two shall be considered as a single extension.

5.5.11.a. The applicant desiring an extension to a prospective real estate subdivision shall pay the entire cost of the extension. The utility may require the applicant to deposit an amount equal to the estimated cost of the project before construction is started, which deposit shall not draw interest. At the end of each calendar year, for a period of ten (10) years, the utility will refund to the applicant who paid for the extension, or his authorized agent, a sum equivalent to the cost of 100 feet of pipe installed in the extension for each additional customer as of December 31st, but in no case will the total amount refunded exceed the amount paid to the utility. After ten (10) years from the completion of the extension no refund will be made.

5.5.11.b. Customers locating on an extension made under Rule 5.5.11 will not be charged an extension surcharge.

5.6.2.a. All such installations shall have at least one (1) regulator and shall also be provided with excess pressure protection. This safety device shall be installed near the customer's meter and shall be set to relieve any pressure in excess of ten (10) ounces, unless higher pressure is necessary in order to furnish service.

5.6.2.b. The number of regulators required shall be determined by the maximum operating pressure existing in the line at any time during the preceding twelve (12) month period, unless changes in operating conditions are contemplated that would require more regulators, in which case additional regulators may be required.

5.6.2.c. On lines in which the maximum pressure does not exceed sixty (60) pound gauge, a service type regulator shall be used. When the maximum gauge pressure existing in the line does not exceed one hundred fifty (150) pounds, two or more regulators shall be used to reduce the pressure. On lines in which the maximum gauge pressure exceeds one hundred fifty (150) pounds, sufficient regulators for safe operation shall be installed.