NIPSCO fined $463,000 for failing to properly locate underground pipelines
The Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC) has issued a $463,000 civil penalty against Northern Indiana Public Service Company (NIPSCO) for violations related to locating underground pipelines during excavation requests.
According to the IURC’s pipeline safety division, NIPSCO committed 190 violations of Indiana Code Title 8, which requires utilities to provide the approximate location of underground facilities when notified through the Indiana 811 damage prevention system. Investigators found the company failed to timely or accurately mark underground infrastructure in response to locate requests submitted by excavators, according to WNDU News.
Under IURC guidelines, the violations placed the utility in penalty level 4—the second-highest enforcement category—covering cases involving 101 to 200 violations, WNDU News reported. Regulators said part of the penalty was reduced after considering corrective actions taken by NIPSCO to address the issues.
Excavation contractors rely on accurate utility locates to avoid damaging buried infrastructure, including gas pipelines. Industry officials say incomplete or delayed location information can increase the risk of strikes, service disruptions, and serious safety incidents during construction and utility work.
Related News
From Archive
- 27 pipeline safety violations tied to deadly Pa. chocolate factory explosion
- Contractor gas line strike triggers home explosion in Missouri
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion
- Fatal trench collapse in Mass. leads to $4.6 million OSHA penalty, dozens of violations
- OSHA investigates fatal trench collapse at Conroe construction site
- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion
- Alaska fiber buildout to expand broadband in rural communities
- 11-mile Texas pipeline replacement upgrades 72-in. PCCP to 102-in. steel
Comments