Public Service Commission seeks additional pipeline safety inspector and small budget true‑ups

The Public Service Commission (PSC) asked the House Appropriations Subcommittee for funding to hire an additional pipeline safety inspector and to address smaller budget shortfalls in salaries and administrative costs.

PSC staff said the agency's pipeline safety division is audited annually by the federal government and recent audits noted the state did not meet certain inspection targets. The PSC said additional staff would allow the state to perform inspections required under federal grant guidelines and protect federal reimbursement levels. The PSC requested the state share of an inspector's annual salary (cited as about $78,000) and noted the House had earlier approved a one‑time appropriation in the amended budget to cover equipment for the new inspector.

The commission explained that historically the federal reimbursement covered roughly 60% of program costs but that recently federal reimbursements have fallen closer to 40%, creating a shortfall. The PSC asked for a "true up" to cover an annualized shortfall of roughly $24,781 related to the pipeline inspector funded in the prior year and to cover increased premiums and rent shortfalls (roughly $19,560).

The PSC also warned the committee that the agency's legal and technical staff have experienced turnover as private utilities and other employers hire experienced analysts and attorneys; the PSC said training replacements can take several years. Committee members discussed staffing levels and potential future needs if legislation (House Bill 449) to allow PSC involvement in certain private water system rate increases moves forward.

The PSC said it remains committed to stewardship of public funds and thanked the committee for prior support.