(a) On or before July 1, 1995, the commission shall undertake a propane safety inspection and enforcement program for propane distribution systems to ensure compliance with the federal pipeline standards by propane operators within the state. The commission may adopt rules, which shall be at least as stringent as the federal law, in order to protect the health and safety of customers served by propane distribution systems. Nothing in this chapter prohibits the commission from adopting more stringent standards than those in the federal pipeline standards.

(b) As part of this propane safety inspection and enforcement program, the commission inspectors may:

Terms Used In California Public Utilities Code 4452

  • Commission: means the Public Utilities Commission. See California Public Utilities Code 4451
  • Distribution system: means a system of pipes, operated by a person or corporation other than a public utility, serving 10 or more customers, within a citywide area, an apartment house, a condominium, a cluster of homes, a shopping center, a combination of any of the above, a mobilehome park with two or more customers, or any system if a portion of the system is located in a public place, which is connected to a tank or tanks, for the purpose of distribution of propane to the end customers. See California Public Utilities Code 4451
  • federal pipeline standards: means the Federal Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 1968 (49 U. See California Public Utilities Code 4451
  • Propane: means propane gas, also known as liquid petroleum gas or LPG. See California Public Utilities Code 4451
  • Public place: means any system supplying two or more customers where any portion is under a public right of way. See California Public Utilities Code 4451
  • State: means the State of California, unless applied to the different parts of the United States. See California Public Utilities Code 17
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Public Utilities Code 10

(1) Enter public or private property as is necessary to carry out this chapter.

(2) Enter and inspect all propane distribution systems, wherever situated, and inspect all documents (including those records listed in subdivision (a) of Section 4453), accommodations, equipment, or paraphernalia used in connection with or related to the distribution system.

(c) The commission’s propane safety inspection and enforcement program shall not cover propane used by any of the following:

(1) Single customers served by single tanks.

(2) Distribution systems, other than mobilehome parks, that serve less than 10 customers, unless any portion of the system is located in a public place.

(3) Recreational vehicles and appliances.

(4) Vehicular fuel.

(5) Agricultural, commercial serving less than 10 customers, unless a portion of the system is located in a public place, industrial, and refinery systems.

(6) Cylinder exchange operations.

(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 651, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1997.)

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