UGI accepts PUC penalty
HARRISBURG - UGI Utilities Inc. accepted a penalty from the state Public Utility Commission, including a $500,000 fine for an explosion that rocked Allentown and killed five people on Feb. 9, 2011.
The commission fined the company the maximum allowed by law and ordered a stepped-up replacement of aging gas lines and increased safety and training programs. The commission cited a handful of violations the company had.
"The UGI Companies take very seriously the commission's expressions of concerns regarding the allegations into the UGI Companies operation," the company said it a statement. "The UGI Companies know that it is our responsibility to safely and reliably serve customers."
The company said it would spend $71.1 million in the coming year to replace old lines and get rid of all cast-iron pipes throughout its distribution system by 2027.