The same week that Summit Utilities took over operations of the Arkansas Oklahoma Gas Corporation, the firm agreed to pay $307,000 in fines in Maine over safety violations.
One of the violations, according to the Associated Press was a potentially “catastrophic” gas leak in Augusta, Maine. Known as Summit Natural Gas of Maine, the company reached the agreement with the Maine Public Utilities Commission which fined Summit for violations stemming from construction work performed by the natural gas company and subcontractors beginning in 2013.
Commissioner Carlisle McLean credited his agency’s investigation for causing Summit to take a hard look at its management and contracting services. It also hired a new CEO, Kurt Adams in 2015. Adams issued a statement about the fine agreement, indicating the company has beefed up pipeline safety standards and plans to focus on providing “safe, reliable and clean-burning natural gas.”
By expanding operations into Oklahoma and Arkansas, the company added 60,000 more natural gas utility customers, according to OK Energy Today’s report about the purchase.
