AGA Recognizes Gas Utilities for Commitment to Safety

The American Gas Association today recognized a number of natural gas utilities and transmission companies for their outstanding commitment to safety. During AGA’s annual Operations Conference in Orlando, FL, 21 AGA member companies received the 2016 Safety Achievement Awards for notable performance in worker safety. The selection is based on criteria involving professional and personal commitment and dedication to improving the operations and engineering sectors of the natural gas industry through safety, accident prevention, research and active AGA committee and event participation.

“Safety is at the core of the service natural gas utilities provide,” said Dave McCurdy, president and CEO at AGA. “The men and women who operate America’s natural gas delivery systems play a critical role in safely delivering this clean energy source to the more than 69 million customers who rely on it each day. We have always stood for these values and an unending commitment to service. I applaud this year’s recipient’s and commend them for their dedication to safety in their communities.”

The following AGA member companies earned Safety Achievement Awards by experiencing the lowest motor vehicle accident rate for companies of their type:

• Alliant Energy (Madison, WI)
• Gas Natural Fenosa (Barcelona, Spain)
• Liberty Utilities (Oakville, ON, Canada)
• TransCanada (Calgary, AB, Canada)
• Rocky Mount Public Utilities (Rocky Mount, NC)
• Columbia Gas of Maryland (Cumberland, MD)

The following AGA member companies have earned Safety Achievement Awards by experiencing the lowest incident rate for the number of days away from work, restricted or transferred among companies of their size and type, based upon a maximum figure of 1,960 hours worked per employee.

• Maine Natural Gas (Brunswick, ME)
• Columbia Gas of Maryland (Cumberland, MD)
• Citizens Energy Group (Indianapolis, IN)
• ENSTAR Natural Gas Company (Anchorage, AK)
• South Carolina Electric & Gas (Columbia, SC)
• Duke Energy (Charlotte, NC)
• Comgás (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
• DTE Gas Company (Detroit, MI)
• Enbridge Gas Distribution (North York, ON)
• Gas Natural Fenosa (Barcelona, Spain)
• Florida Public Utilities Co. (Chesapeake Utilities Corp.,) (Fernandina Beach, FL)
• NV Energy (Las Vegas, NV)
• LG&E/KU (Louisville, KY)
• Dow Pipeline Company (Angleton, TX)
• TransCanada (Calgary, AB, Canada)

Two companies also earned recognition for outstanding contributions to natural gas safety communications through the AGA Safety Awareness Video Excellence Awards. Consumers Energy won in the internal communications category for their video, “Core Safety: Excavation” and Xcel Energy won in the external communications category for their video, “Call 811 Before You Dig”.