Does GSEP make the gas system safer?
Gas utilities oppose the phaseout plan. They argue that GSEP is an essential tool for ensuring safety and lowering the amount of greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere from leaky pipes.
“We cannot sacrifice the safety and reliability of this system, and GSEP is critical to that goal,” Eversource spokesperson William Hinkle said. “Slowing the pace of this critically needed infrastructure work would be fully counterproductive — delaying emissions reductions, increasing risk to public safety, and ultimately leading to greater rate volatility for customers.”
However, the on-the-ground evidence that GSEP improves safety is mixed at best.
In the 12 states that do the most pipe replacements under such programs, including Massachusetts, the number of significant pipeline safety incidents increased between 2011 and 2018, after years of trending downward, according to Seavey’s analysis.
