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Annual Update - Gas Distribution System
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This update covers the operation and maintenance of the gas system from this past year. The update will focus on aspects of physical condition, accomplishments, procedural requirements, federal and state oversight and regulatory requirements, capital project accomplishments, development projects support, and the major change in staffing and management of the gas system operation.
Gas System Annual Report to the Board of Public Utilities - October 1, 2025
With the changes made to the operational administration of the gas system, many of the issues that were cited by the PRC have been resolved. The Los Alamos County gas distribution system is a very good system with ample capacity to serve the community and is generally in very good shape. DPU has invested in the system to address both capacity and age/condition issues over the past 25 years.
The oldest portions of the system within the County that still use steel pipe are well protected and continuously monitored for compliant levels of cathodic protection, resulting in very good ratings for the condition of the pipe. Many areas have new polyethylene pipes. Only those areas with older Adyl-A pipe (older style plastic pipe) could be considered below the “excellent” rating level, but with good soil conditions and often being installed in original steel pipe sleeves, they rarely present problems and are not a concern in the near term.
Almost all problems (leaks) occur on fittings or welds that fail slowly and allow small amounts of leaking gas to finally surface and be detected by either a leak detection effort, or by someone who smells the gas and reports it to DPU. Other issues are found in isolated sections that were not replaced during a larger project, usually due to the complications to do so at the time. The number of leaks found each year remains very low (<10), much lower than the national average of 22.3 leaks (repaired) per 100 miles of distribution line.
This year, one such problem leak was found on Pine and Quartz Streets on an original section of isolated steel that hadn’t been properly documented, likely sometime in the early 1980s. The segment was found in the front and back yards of about five homes when a leak was detected. DPU acted quickly and put together a task order to have our on-call gas system contractor come out to replace and reconfigure the sections to be in the streets and away from homes.
DP Road saw a complete overhaul of its gas infrastructure in 2024/2025 during the joint DPU/Public Works upgrade project. All original gas piping was replaced with a new system that also upgrades the capacity to serve any additional growth along DP Road.
Going into the second year of the restructured GWS Operations that includes a dedicated Gas System Supervisor and crews who focus only on gas system O&M, all regulated O&M requirements are once again met, and the records have been kept up to date and organized by O&M category. Additionally, the Gas System Supervisor can oversee and manage all “OQ” (operator qualification) requirements, which require constant vigilance on each GWS member to stay current and in compliance. There are over 90 OQ areas (procedures) that require training and certification each year, some of which require a field practical competency observation, such as pressure regulator adjustment and section isolation operations.
Finally, the replacement of the gas distribution system at the Elk Ridge mobile home park has been an ongoing situation that has required considerable attention from DPU and GWS gas system crews. Over the winter of 2024/25, DPU took on the responsibility to perform monthly leak surveys due to the situation that has developed over the years in which some of the mobile units have been placed directly over the distribution main line, and no maintenance records have been found for the system. The NM PRC recognizes that the lack of ownership or maintenance records creates a problematic situation, and that the solution is to 1) get the system completely replaced and ownership and responsibility assigned to a qualified operator, and 2) that continuous surveillance in the interim is “best practice” to protect the public.
Yes! Communities has contracted with Dub-L-EE to install the municipal-side gas system (mains and service lines), and Cartwright Plumbing to install and perform residential gas piping modifications. The DPU Engineering division and GWS jointly perform inspections and collect all installation and operator records as required. Once the new gas system is put into operation, the task of cutting over residents will begin, with GWS gas fitters assembling and installing the meter setters (DPU furnished materials, meters, and labor).
Although the project has progressed well, there is the potential for complications related to the residents’ plumbing and appliances within the mobile homes. Cartwright Plumbing will be required to pull permits for the changes made within the homes, which are handled by the NM CID mobile home division. All piping and appliances must meet current plumbing code and pass an observed pressure test to be approved for reconnection to the new gas system.
The inspections by the NM CID involve scheduling up to ten home inspections every Thursday once the cut-over process begins. There may be quite a few homes with issues that are found to be out of compliance and therefore will need to be rectified by the homeowners. That potential situation is being presented to the homeowners by Yes! Communities and Cartwright Plumbing and is developing currently. At the rate that the inspections by the NM CID will occur, hopefully beginning in October, it is likely that some homes may not be transferred to the new gas system before winter season.
The capacity of the gas system to serve the County is excellent. The upgrades to the border stations, where gas from the New Mexico Gas Company enters the LAC gas system, have ensured an adequate supply with ample pressure to serve the far ends of the system during the peak demand periods in the coldest winter conditions.
Attachments
A - Annual Presentation on Gas Distribution System