8003 Natural Gas Service Reliability and System Planning Standards - 1.0 Purpose and Scope

1.1Natural gas system safety is the overriding goal for Delaware's natural gas system operators. Reliable natural gas service is an essential service to Delaware citizens and is of great importance to the Delaware Public Service Commission ("Commission"). This regulation sets forth distribution planning requirements, reliability standards, and reporting requirements to assure the continued Reliability and Natural Gas quality of service being delivered to Delaware regulated public utility customers and applies to all Delaware Gas Distribution Companies ("GDCs").#

1.2Nothing in this regulation relieves a GDC from compliance with any requirement set forth under any other regulation, statute or order, such as the GDC's operations, maintenance and emergency manuals, federal pipeline safety regulations contained in 49 CFR Part 192 and Delaware Pipeline Safety Compliance Programs.#

1.3Compliance with this regulation is a minimum standard. Compliance does not create a presumption of safe, adequate and proper service. Each GDC must exercise its professional judgment based on its systems and service territories. Nothing in this regulation relieves any GDC from the requirement to furnish safe, adequate and proper service and to keep and maintain its property and equipment in such condition as to enable it to do so. (26 Del.C. §209)#

1.4Each GDC is responsible for maintaining the Reliability of natural gas service to all its customers in the state of Delaware. Pursuant to this requirement, GDCs may be subject to penalties as provided for in Section 10.0 or allowed under other applicable Delaware law.#

1.5GDCs are encouraged to explore the use of proven state of the art technology, to provide cost effective natural gas service Reliability improvements.#