Virginia State Corporation Commission staff recommended approving a request from Washington Gas Light Co. to amend its Steps to Advance Virginia's Energy plan for 2026 through 2028.
One key amendment is supplementing the company's existing leakage survey activities with a new advanced leak detection (ALD) program, according to a commission report filed Oct. 31. The program utilizes two vehicle-mounted pieces of leak detection technology from Picarro Inc.. The ALD units will cost $300,000 each.
The Picarro equipment can detect methane leaks within a parts per billion (PPB) range, according to Michael Upshaw, senior manager for Washington Gas leak survey, corrosion and meter services.
"The PPB range is more sensitive than the parts per million range of the equipment currently used by individuals who walk the company's pipeline system during leakage survey," Upshaw stated in written testimony to the commission.
Washington Gas' amended plan under the Steps to Advance Virginia's Energy (SAVE) program will require corporation commission approval to take effect.
New ALD system
The Picarro technology will augment, not replace the routine leak surveys done with traditional methods, according to the company. Washington Gas plans to use the ALD technology on the two-thirds of the system that does not receive a compliance leakage survey each year.
The current system performs a survey on one-third of the distribution system each year, and the entire system is surveyed once every three years. Any area the Picarro technology deems inadequate during its survey will still later be surveyed using the traditional compliance leakage survey.
Ultimately, Washington Gas intends to apply the Picarro equipment to the routine compliance leakage surveys, but the transition to using this technology full-time would likely be three to five years away, after more information is gathered, the company said in the filing.
The potential to move to this ALD technology appears to be in line with the Pipeline & Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's proposed regulatory changes that could require this equipment and practices, staff indicated. PHMSA issued a final rule on Jan. 17 to modify regulations and require ALD practices for gas distribution pipelines, but the rule was withdrawn on Jan. 21 and has not taken effect.
Virginia State Corporation Commission staff approves of using the Picarro tools to aid in identifying possible leaks in pipeline.
"The acquisition and deployment of Picarro technology appears to be a SAVE-eligible initiative that will assist in the prompt identification of leaking pipeline facilities, as well as provide an opportunity for the company to take early action in an area that may see increased regulatory requirements in the future," commission staff said in the filing.
Recent SAVE Plan update
Washington Gas filed its application Aug. 4, seeking commission approval for the updated SAVE plan. The update aims to amend and extend the company's existing plan, which is set to expire Dec. 31, 2027. The proposal included efforts under a low-pressure distribution replacement program, a new transmission system program and an advanced leak detection program.
The current application requests approval of new amendments for the SAVE plan through Dec. 31, 2028. In the new amendments, the company will invest $700 million in SAVE-eligible infrastructure replacements for the Virginia area.
Washington Gas will also continue other SAVE replacement programs — as well as modify programs for the low-pressure distribution system program and the transmission and high-pressure distribution program — to expand their scope in addition to the new ALD program.
The projected capital expenditures for 2026 through 2028 outlines the replacement of gas mains and service lines accounting for about $546.6 million of the three-year program. The advanced leak detection capital would make up nearly $2.3 million of the plan, down from an initial proposal of $4.6 million in August.
