PUC approves penalty, settlement over Lancaster County explosion

(Harrisburg) -- State regulators have approved a $200,000 settlement with a utility that owns a natural gas main that exploded in Lancaster County nearly two years ago.

UGI Utilities has agreed to the civil penalty with the Public Utility Commission for the incident that happened in Millersville in October, 2011.

PUC spokeswoman Jennifer Kocher says the gas main near Manor Avenue and George Street was not properly marked when crews started digging.

"In Pennsylvania, the number one reason for the failure of natural gas lines is hits from people who are digging," Kocher says. "One of the things we try to do is emphasize that 'call before you dig' message."

Kocher says the settlement requires UGI's line locators to get additional training.

The Reading-based utility will also improve its internal line location screening system and shore-up other working procedures.

The PUC recently fined UGI $500,000 for a February, 2011 explosion that killed five people in Allentown.