Jim O’Connor ACC Chairman | https://azcc.gov
Jim O’Connor ACC Chairman | https://azcc.gov
The Arizona Corporation Commission's Office of Pipeline Safety (AZOPS) has achieved one of the lowest excavation damage rates for natural gas pipelines in the United States, as highlighted in the latest Damage Prevention Performance Report.
A key metric used in the gas industry to report damage rates is total excavation damages per 1,000 call tickets. In 2024, Arizona recorded an average of 0.75 pipeline damages per 1,000 tickets. This low rate is attributed to AZOPS's proactive approach to enforcing Operator Qualification requirements and educating about the Underground Facilities Law. Additionally, operators have been engaging and implementing their damage prevention and public awareness programs effectively.
In 2024, there was an increase in AZ811 One call tickets while the number of hits per 1,000 tickets decreased compared to previous years.
AZOPS oversees a combined pipeline length of 45,037 miles and manages 1,456,602 services. Operators reported a total of 676 pipeline hits or damages during the year. Analysis indicates that "3rd Party Excavator Error" was the leading cause of pipeline damage in 2024. Other causes included "No AZ811 Tickets," "Incorrect Marking," and "Error by LDC’s personnel."
For more information on this report, visit http://azcc.gov/safety/pipeline-safety/pipeline.
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