The New York State Public Service Commission is accusing Central Hudson Gas and Electric of numerous safety violations its members believe contributed to the Nov., 2 2023 home explosion in Wappingers Falls that injured 15 people and wiped out a block of homes.
Central Hudson now has 30 days to respond to the 15 violations detailed in a report issued Wednesday just after the PSC's October meeting.
The PSC says in its report that before the explosion on Brick Row, Central Hudson employees did not notify excavation contractors of a gas line the employees knew was in the middle of the street.
Officials said that prior to gas line upgrades, one of the contractors hit the gas line with heavy equipment which triggered an explosion minutes later.
Ten civilians and five first responders were injured.
Some suffered burn injuries and were disfigured.
Violations listed in the report relate to not maintaining a map of gas lines for contractors and endangering customers.
Commissioners carefully discussed the report without mentioning Central Hudson by name until the very end of the discussion, and re-enforced several times that the report consists of allegations, not a settled case.
The report also includes email and text exchanges among Central Hudson employees before and after the explosion in which the employees apparently knew there was a gas line buried outside 7 Brick Row.
"That unit that collapsed has had meter reads since June," one employee texted to others the day after the explosion, adding that the line is not in the company's mapping system. "[It] is not in GIS or Essentials yet."
"That's going to be an issue," another employee wrote.
"That's bad," said another.
"I think this should bring light to all of the slow and brushed off processes," one texter wrote.
PSC members said Central Hudson still failed to include anything about that gas line in binders the company gave contractors.
"For the sake of New Yorkers everywhere who rely on natural gas to meet their daily needs, I look forward to a prompt response from the utility and expeditious progress and resolution of this matter," said PSC chairperson Rory Christian.
Wappingers Falls Treasurer Lori Jiava told News 12 Wednesday morning the explosion and the aftermath cost significant taxpayer dollars for additional police and fire work hours, and it brought up safety concerns.
She was pleased to learn the PSC is still investigating nearly one year after the explosion.
"It's not about blaming a particular utility or person," she said. "It's about, 'How can we get our arms around this so we can address this so it doesn't happen the next time."
Central Hudson spokesperson Joe Jenkins told News 12 Wednesday afternoon the company is still reviewing the PSC's findings.
"We will closely review the Commission’s report and provide a comprehensive response to the allegations within the timeline requested by our regulators," Jenkins said. "We understand the impacts this incident had on the residents of Brick Row and the surrounding community and will continue to work closely with regulators and all other stakeholders to support everyone involved. "
Jenkins said the company will share more details from its side in its formal response to the allegations.
After reviewing Central Hudson's response, the PSC will decide whether to pursue all 15 violations, some of the violations, or none.
According to the fine structure mentioned in the report, Central Hudson could face fines totaling more than $3.5 million if all the violations hold up.
