Rhode Island agency opens investigation into natural gas service interruption

PROVIDENCE, R.I., (WJAR) — After thousands went without natural gas service last week on Aquidneck Island during the coldest stretch of the season, Rhode Island’s Division of Public Utilities and Carriers says it will open up an investigation into the service interruption.

The DPUC announced it will look into the conditions that may have contributed to the loss of natural gas pressure to National Grid customers in Newport and Middletown.

The Division claims it has been collecting data from the start of the interruption, but that at the time it was mainly focused on restoring service.

The scope of DPUC’s authority only covers National Grid’s gas distribution system in Rhode Island. The entities and utilities that bring natural gas to New England fall under federal regulation, but the Division says it will work closely with those agencies for fact finding.

The DPUC plans to make their findings public when the investigation is done.