PSC Approves Agreement in Spire Natural Gas Complaint Case - pr-27-22

The Commission Staff filed the Formal Complaint as a follow-up to its investigation of a reportable gas incident in Kansas City, Missouri on April 22, 2025. The incident occurred when a third-party excavator damaged a high-pressure 10-inch steel gas main. Spire Missouri personnel responded to investigate and repair the damage, and a flash fire occurred causing serious injury to field personnel.

Key points of the agreement are as follows:

• Spire Missouri agrees to pay the sum of $50,000 to the Public School Fund of the State of Missouri no later than October 1, 2026. Missouri law mandates that PSC penalties and forfeitures go to the public school fund under the Missouri Constitution Article IX, Section 7, and Revised Statute Section 386.600 Spire Missouri agrees that it will not seek or recover the above sum in rates in any future rate case.

• Spire Missouri agrees to evaluate its procedures and training for emergency response activities related to blowing gas, including adding simulated emergencies and mock drills to additional training, and holding discussions with field personnel about the circumstances of this incident.

• Spire Missouri agrees to update its standard operating procedures to limit work in excavations containing a hazardous atmosphere. Spire Missouri also agrees to provide Commission Staff with copies of each created or modified procedure within 20 days after the change is made, in accordance with Commission rules.

Spire Missouri provides natural gas service to approximately 1.2 million customers in Missouri in around St. Louis, Kansas City, Joplin, Poplar Bluff, St. Joseph, and other communities.