The Massachusetts Dept. of Public Utilities announced on Sept. 26 that it will hire an independent firm to examine the commonwealth’s natural gas distribution system—parts of which include components that are a century old—in the wake of massive gas explosions in three towns north of Boston on Sept. 13.
Angela O’Connor, DPU’s chair, said in a statement theexamination will evaluate “the physical condition and safety of the distribution system, as well as the operational and maintenance functions of natural gas companies.”