PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia Gas Works will begin handing out free methane detectors as part of a settlement with state regulators over a deadly gas explosion in South Philadelphia five years ago.
The alarms are designed to give homeowners and renters an early warning of potential gas leaks. The program is scheduled to launch in the next nine months.
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission said the first-of-its-kind program is one of several new safety measures from PGW after the December 2019 explosion.
Just days before Christmas, firefighters were sent to the 1400 block of South 8th Street when a rowhome burst into flames. Two men were killed in the blast and several homes were destroyed after a 91-year-old gas main cracked.
An investigation by PUC found that PGW failed to adequately monitor pipeline maintenance and replace or repair the unsafe portion of the pipe. The settlement resolves a complaint filed by the commission following the investigation. The city-owned natural gas provider has also agreed to seek more than $100 million in federal grants to modernize its infrastructure.
The utility commission says it's a "significant step forward for public safety."
PGW will not face a fine under the settlement