Washington Gas backs continuation of STRIDE Plan

STRIDE allows Washington Gas to recover its costs as investments are made, enabling the acceleration of natural gas infrastructure replacement. The new plan proposes to replace 120 miles of pipeline and 14 400 services in Maryland between 2019 and 2023.

Washington Gas is currently in the final year of the first phase of its 22-year STRIDE program to enhance safety and improve reliability across its Maryland system by continuing the accelerated replacement of its distribution and transmission systems. The Maryland General Assembly enacted STRIDE law in 2013. Washington Gas filed its first plan in late 2013, which was approved in 2014.

“Maryland’s STRIDE program is an innovative approach to replacing aging gas infrastructure to enhance safety and improve the reliability of our system. We are pleased that over the last four years, we have been able to replace 66 miles of pipeline and 15 000 services in Maryland through March of 2018. We are proud that these improvements also lead to a lowering of greenhouse gas emissions,” said Adrian Chapman, President and Chief Operating Officer at Washington Gas. “We have been delivering safe, reliable and affordable natural gas to customers for 170 years, and our continued investment through STRIDE positions us to keep a proven track record of providing quality service to Marylanders for many years to come.”

Washington Gas’ investment under the 2019 - 2023 plan is anticipated to be approximately US$393 million. Approval of the filing will result in residential heating customers paying a surcharge of 37 cents per month beginning in 2019, the first year of the 5-year plan.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/contracts-and-tenders/18062018/washington-gas-backs-continuation-of-stride-plan/