Over the past 15 years, two federal initiatives — the DIMP rule and PHMSA's Call to Action — have fundamentally reshaped how U.S. gas utilities invest in safety, one by promoting integrity management and the other by encouraging accelerated replacement of certain pipelines.
This report presents the first comprehensive evaluation of these initiatives. It finds that utility safety spending has been significantly misallocated: since 2011, capital spending is up 200% and customer delivery charges have nearly doubled, yet measured safety outcomes have not improved commensurately.
The analysis traces this divergence to regulatory frameworks that often fail to ensure that capital investments are guided by rigorous risk assessment and systematic evaluation of alternative risk-mitigation strategies.
The report calls on state and federal regulators, utilities, and other interested parties to take action to improve outcomes for the public.
Questions and feedback on the study are welcome at safety@thefutureofheat.com
Spending and Safety Outcomes in U.S. Gas Distribution Systems
An Assessment of DIMP & PHMSA’s Call to Action
