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Indianapolis’ in 2013 (see Figure 2-6), the proportion of pipeline-miles made from cast iron and steel in Boston
Gas has reduced from 60 percent in 2008 to 51 percent in 2013. 77 To further expedite pipeline replacement,
Massachusetts recently enacted a law requiring utility classification and prioritization of pipeline leaks for
replacement or repair. 78
The most leak-prone distribution pipeline materials are cast iron and bare steel, accounting for
approximately 9 percent of distribution pipes in the United States 79 and resulting in roughly 30 percent
of methane emissions from natural gas distribution systems. 80 All regions of the country have some leakprone
distribution pipeline networks. Table 2-2 presents the top 10 states with the most miles of leak-prone
distribution mains. r The magnitude of investment needed to replace all leak-prone distribution mains
nationwide is more than $270 billion. s
Table 2-2. 10 States with the Most Miles of Leak-Prone Distribution Mains 81
Of the 10 states with the most miles of leak-prone natural gas mains, nine have infrastructure modernization acceleration initiatives.
Rank
State
Leak Prone Iron
Mains (mi)
Leak Prone Steel
Mains (mi)
Total Leak Prone
Mains (mi)
Total Leak Prone Mains (% of
pipes in state)
1 PA 3,300 8,600 11,900 25%
2 NY 4,200 7,500 11,700 25%
3 OH 570 9,500 10,070 18%
4 CA 29 8,200 8,229 8%
5 NJ 4,900 2,200 7,100 21%
6 MA 3,600 2,600 6,200 30%
7 TX 820 5,000 5,820 6%
8 MI 3,000 2,300 5,300 9%
9 WV 13 3,000 3,013 29%
10 AL 1,200 820 2,020 7%
Despite progress in many states to help the replacement of leak-prone pipes in distribution networks, 82 some
have limitations; many place caps on the magnitude of investments eligible for cost recovery and/or on the size
of rate increases. Even with such special cost-recovery mechanisms, 83 at least one dozen utilities will require
two decades or more to replace their leak-prone pipeline, and at least four will need over half a century. Table
2-3 shows replacement time frames for select distribution systems.
r
Distribution mains are pipelines that serve as a common source of supply for more than one service line. Source: 49 CFR § 192.3. In:
Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration. “Glossary.” www.phmsa.dot.gov/staticfiles/
PHMSA/Pipeline/TQGlossary/Glossary.html#main. Accessed March 9, 2015. Generally, these are gas pipelines running underground
along streets, connecting to service lines that run to individual buildings.
s
The American Gas Association reports that the total cost of replacing all cast iron pipe in the United States is $82,682,696,844 in
2011 dollars. According to Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration data, cast iron pipes represent approximately
30 percent of the total leak-prone pipe in the United States. Assuming other pipe replacement has similar costs, the total cost for
replacement of all leak-prone pipe is roughly $270 billion. Source: American Gas Association. “Managing the Reduction of the
Nation’s Cast Iron Inventory.” 2013. www.aga.org/managing-reduction-nation%E2%80%99s-cast-iron-inventory. Accessed
January 16, 2015.
QER Report: Energy Transmission, Storage, and Distribution Infrastructure | April 2015 2-21