2021 Achievements
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What's the context?
We've provided data on our achievements in 2021. If you're looking for additional context on how much overall infrastructure we maintain, check out our overview infographics.
592 metres of gas main replaced is less than the 1,000 metres replaced in 2020. That's because the work in 2021 was on a large eight-inch diameter pipe, at a congested intersection (Rideau Street at Cataraqui Street).
Improving Community Infrastructure
In-house Gas Service Installations Ensure Service Excellence
For the fourth year, we continued our efforts to install new gas services using in-house resources, replacing or installing 65 gas services. Our crews worked diligently to provide timely installations.
Our installation crew ensures excellent quality of work. This activity allows our team to continually assess the condition of underground assets, as we expose and work on pipes throughout the city. It exposes our staff members to all aspects of gas construction work.
Gas Valve Maintenance Program for System Integrity
Utilities Kingston maintains over 1,400 mainline gas valves. The gas valve maintenance program helps to ensure the integrity of the municipal gas distribution system.
In 2021, we inspected or maintained 175 valves, focusing on high pressure and steel gas mains, and priority valves for schools, hospitals and construction sites.
Upgrades at Railway Street Regulating Station Ensure System Safety
During annual maintenance at the Railway Street Natural Gas Regulating Station we determined an issue with lockup pressure. This is an integral safety aspect of high-pressure regulators and part of our regular maintenance program. Our investigations found that this particular style and age of regulator is associated with a history of maintenance issue.
Utilities Kingston certified natural gas technicians worked with our engineering department to devise a replacement plan for the regulating runs. For maintenance, continuity and familiarity, we decided to use the same regulator as at the City Gate Natural Gas Regulating Station. Installation was completed in the fall of 2021.
Ensuring the Integrity and Safety of the Distribution System
Training: Competency Assessment Program
Staff training and competency continued to be a key focus. We identified training and assessment requirements under the Competency Assessment Program. All new employees involved in gas operations took part in the Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) Gas Pipeline Inspectors Certification.
Ensuring Gas Safety
As part of maintaining the integrity of the natural gas system, on an annual basis we inspect over 20 per cent of the infrastructure for leaks.
Overall, we maintain 264 kilometres of gas main and the other assets described in our natural gas overview infographic. The graphic below shows what we inspected in 2021.
In addition to leak detection, we completed 184 gas safety inspections of new gas installations at development sites across Kingston. These inspection are completed prior to provided natural gas to these sites.
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Regulation and Legislation
To help ensure the safety and integrity of the natural gas distribution system, we abide with all relevant Ontario regulation and legislation. This includes reporting system damage, the five-year distributors audit, audit of customer appliances, our cathodic protection program and legal requirements of gas meters.
Reporting System Damage
Ontario Regulation 210/01, Oil And Gas Pipeline Systems, requires that Utilities Kingston reports when there has been damage to the system that results in a gas leak
In 2021, there were a total of eight occurrences, compared to 11 in 2018, 18 in 2019 and 13 in 2020. In addition, two releases of natural gas occured due to equipment failure, which was subsequently repaired.
Distributors Audit
In 2020, the TSSA conducted its five-year distributors audit to determine compliance with O. Reg. 212/01, the Code Adoption Document and applicable codes, with a focus on the Distributions Safety Integrity Management Program (DSIMP). While 11 recommendations were provided, the results of the audit where good, with no major infractions.
All recommendations have either been completed or are in the stages of a multi-stage plan. Here's our progress in 2021:
- Completed three recommendations for field review and modification, which were signed off by TSSA.
- Updated our incident reporting tool to capture not only third-party damages, but also integrity/equipment failures.
- Reviewed and updated internal audit procedures.
- Developed a new risk assessment procedure and built a framework for completing the risk assessment.
- Developed a a new method for identifying potential hazards that conforms to the CSA Z662 with 19 hazards identified so far.
Audit of Customer Appliances
As part of a TSSA audit, mandated under the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, we conducted 446 inspections of customer-owned appliances, piping and fittings, and identified 275 hazards, requiring corrective actions on the part of property owners. Property owners were advised on what to do next to achieve regulatory compliance and to improve occupant safety.
To help ensure health and safety during the pandemic, we limited this work to reduce entry into customer homes.
Cathodic Protection
Cathodic protection is used to control the corrosion of steel piping systems and extend their useful, safe life. Utilities Kingston operates 24 kilometres high pressure and 73 kilometres intermediate pressure steel gas mains.
To improve monitoring, in 2021, our crews and contracted services installed 19 test stations including nine DC test coupons. Nine anode banks and two individual anodes, to total 44 anodes, were also installed in 2021.
With the above installations, the 2021 Cathodic Protection program implemented increased levels of protection to several areas of the system as recommended by an engineering study done in 2020. This work will help stop corrosion of the steel gas infrastructure and improve system safety.
Legal Requirements of Gas Meters
As determined by Measurement Canada, and in accordance with the Electricity and Gas Inspection Act, every year we send a sample number of gas meters to verify accuracy and that the meters conform to legal requirements.
In 2021, we replaced 451 gas meters for this purpose. While this was less than planned for the year, it represented a major accomplishment for our team, due to the challenges of COVID-19, as this work requires our gas technician to enter customer premises.
Gas meters must be verified and reverified within appropriate periods, established on the basis of their stability of performance, application and usage. Measurement Canada determines how meters are selected for verification. This is based on criteria that include age, size and manufacturer. Meters are typically verified and reverified every 7 to 10 years.
Helping customers reduce energy use
Utilities Kingston is a committed partner to the City of Kingston in being a climate action leader. Here are some ways we assisted customers in reducing energy use:
- Provided financial incentives that stimulated the installation of high-efficiency furnaces.
- In late 2021, re-relaunched the smart thermostat rebate program.