SoCal Gas and San Diego Gas & Electric are missing safety records for 447 miles of natural gas pipelines, the Sempra Energy affiliates revealed April 15. The utilities have been unable to locate about 30 percent of the “records sufficient to document that the pipelines have been strength tested per the [National Transportation Safety Board] recommendations,” the utilities stated in filings to the California Public Utilities Commission. “Heads will be rolling in Southern California,” said Michael Shames, Utility Consumers’ Action Network executive director. “Nothing in our records’ review process revealed any significant concerns with currently-established” maximum allowable operating pressure for gas pipelines at issue, stated the utilities. Fluctuating pressure in a Pacific Gas & Electric’s gas pipeline that exploded in San Bruno last September is a key issue for state and federal regulators investigating the accident. That blast, which killed eight people and destroyed more than three dozen homes, led the National Transportation Safety Board to issue “critical recommendations” Jan. 3 for natural gas utilities. It also directed the CPUC, which regulates gas pipelines within the state, to ensure all intrastate pipeline operators adhere to safety protocols (Current, Jan 7, 2011). A big issue for the Sempra utilities--and also PG&E--according to Shames is, “Hey, we’ve been paying you big bucks for gas transmission maintenance and you have lost your maintenance records? What have we been paying for?” The two Sempra utilities acknowledged “the new era with respect to gas pipeline safety,” and pointed out additional safety measures they may take. They include continuing examination of records, assessing whether operating pressures can be reduced, conducting strength testing, and possible replacement of pipe segments. Of SoCal Gas’ 1,416 miles of pipelines, inspection data for 383 miles of pipe has yet to be recovered, while 64 miles of gas pipeline for SDG&E system is missing.