The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) ordered on Wednesday that Columbia Gas of Ohio pay $250,000 for violations of natural gas pipeline safety regulations.

These violations are related to a house fire in South Point Ohio in November of 2020. The incident destroyed a house and three vehicles causing $800,000 in property damages and injuring a utility employee.

The investigation stated that Columbia failed to follow its own operating procedures when repairing a natural gas pipeline that had been struck by an excavator, including assigning unqualified workers to perform the repairs. 

Wednesday's order accepted a settlement agreement between PUCO staff and Columbia Gas of Ohio. The agreement calls for Columbia to review its operations and procedures and examines how employees are trained and their qualifications are verified. Columbia must report its findings to PUCO and must pay a $250,000 civil forfeiture to Ohio.