https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/washington-gas-fine-flower-branch/2020/12/21/e502b034-43cb-11eb-a277-49a6d1f9dff1_story.html



Washington Gas has been ordered to pay a $750,000 fine for failing to notify officials it had not replaced mercury gas regulators such as the one blamed in a deadly 2016 explosion in Silver Spring, Md. The utility pledged more than a decade ago to replace all of its indoor mercury gas regulators, but never did.

In proceedings before the Maryland Public Service Commission, the utility said it decided to focus on addressing a surge of natural gas leaks instead. Washington Gas argued that its pledge to replace the regulators was a “plan” rather than a “commitment.”

The commission disagreed and found that Washington Gas should “at a minimum” have notified the commission that it was not honoring its commitment, said the order issued Friday.

“At no time did [Washington Gas] inform the Commission that it was addressing these leaks at the expense of its commitment” to replace the regulators, the order said.

The fine was based on the number of days over many years that the utility failed to file required annual reports on the replacement effort. The order also accepted a plan by the utility to replace its indoor mercury regulators within about six years.