Connecticut Natural Gas (CNG), subsidiary of Avangrid Inc., was recently recognized by the American Gas Association (AGA) for best practice in damage prevention for its Quality Assurance/ Quality Control (QA/QC) program.
“It is an honor to be recognized by the AGA as a best practice in damage prevention, proving an unwavering commitment to innovation and gas safety,” said Frank Reynolds, president and CEO of CNG. “I am proud of the CNG team for all of their work and continued dedication to providing safe and reliable service to our community.”
The QA/QC program is a damage prevention tool based on proactive field oversight, consistent training and accountability. QA/QC inspectors are dedicated to location and excavation safety compliance and serve as an on-site supervisor at “Call Before You Dig” sites to inspect, audit and ensure safe excavation practices. CNG implemented a trouble locate escalation process where mapping and signal discrepanciess trigger immediate flagging and further investigation using wire insertion technology, vac trucks and mainline cameras.
“This recognition from the AGA is a testament to the hard work we have put into the QA/QC program to ensure safe practices at job sites,” said Ross Disbennett, director of CNG’s Gas Operations and Technical Services. “Our goal is to prioritize safety not only for our workforce, but for our customers by preventing damage that could lead to gas leaks and service interruptions. This also serves as an education initiative where we teach customers how to practice safe techniques around gas pipes and ensure they are following the proper guidelines.”
CNG has maintained a third-party damage rate under 1.00 for the past four consecutive years, averaging 0.95 annually across about 55,000 tickets per year. The total damage rate is calculated by the number of damages per 1,000 tickets.
“AGA is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of Connecticut Natural Gas in enhancing public safety through its work in reducing damages caused to gas infrastructure by excavators,” said AGA VP, Safety, Operations & Engineering Andrew Lu. “Excavation damage continues to be the leading cause of pipeline incidents for natural gas utilities across the country. The leading practices applied by CNG are a testament to the effectiveness of CNG’s 811 education and proactive efforts in working with other utilities, municipalities, project owners, homeowners and the excavator community.”
Call Before You Dig is a free service and a state requirement for damage prevention. Contractors and homeowners should call 800-922-4455 between two and 10 business days before digging begins. Learn more at Call Before You Dig – CNG.
Connecticut Natural Gas Corp. is a subsidiary of Avangrid Inc. Established in 1848, CNG operates 2,200 miles of natural gas distribution pipeline, serving approximately 183,000 customers across 26 communities in the greater Hartford-New Britain area and Greenwich, Connecticut.
Avangrid Inc. is a leading energy company in the United States working to meet the growing demand for energy for homes and businesses across the nation through service, innovation and continued investments by expanding grid infrastructure and energy generation projects. Avangrid has offices in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Maine and Oregon, including operations in 23 states with approximately $48 billion in assets and has two primary lines of business – networks and power. Through its networks business, Avangrid owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.4 million customers in New York and New England. Through its power generation business, Avangrid owns and operates 80 energy generation facilities across the United States producing 10.5 GW of power for over 3.1 million customers. It employs approximately 8,000 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital as one of the JUST 100 companies – a ranking of America’s best corporate citizens in 2025 for the fifth consecutive year. The company was named among the World’s Most Ethical Companies in 2025 for the seventh consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. Avangrid is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola S.A.
