State officials on Friday ordered Xcel Energy to find and fix any gas lines statewide that have breached sewer lines, a problem that led to the fiery destruction of a St. Paul house this week.
Xcel faces a $1 million fine if it does not comply with the order, issued by the Department of Public Safety.
The order "wasn't unexpected," said Bill Kaphing, vice president of the control center at Xcel. The utility has been cooperating, he said, and "we knew when this incident happened that we'd be doing more corrective actions."
Trista Meehan's home in the Highland Park neighborhood was engulfed in flames Monday after a plumbing contractor, trying to clear a clogged sewer line, ruptured a natural gas line that had accidentally been laid crossways through the sewer pipe years before. The contractor, Lee Moey, smelled gas and alerted Meehan, helping her flee the house. He was injured in the blaze.
Xcel also must inspect all the gas mains by Wednesday in the two dozen or so homes around Meehan's house at 2014 Villard Av., said department spokesman Andy Skoogman.
Xcel must also:
• Identify every instance of trenchless gas pipeline installation.
• Provide records of all previous sewer inspections and damage related to gas line installation by Feb. 19.