PUC approves penalty against Peco in Upper Merion gas explosion

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Thursday unanimously approved a $75,000 civil penalty against Peco Energy Co. for failing to follow procedures related to a 2009 gas leak and explosion at a house in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County.

A crack in a four-inch cast iron main allowed gas to leak into the crawl space of a house in the 600 block of Summit Street in Swedeland, which caused a "low-level explosion and fire" on Dec. 26, 2009. There were no injuries. The PUC criticized Peco for failing to follow its procedures for identifying and classifying leak migration.

As part of the settlement, Peco has taken measures to educate employees and to improve procedures.

 - Andrew Maykuth