Since the first use of natural gas in our daily lives, natural gas leak detection has been a constant challenge for natural gas utilities in terms of maintaining safe and reliable service. Maintaining the natural gas delivery system, timely response to reported natural gas leaks, and employee and public safety with regard to leaks continue to be a primary focus of natural gas utilities.
While reliable leak detection technology has existed for many years, the predominant method of detecting and reporting escaping natural gas in residential or commercial buildings continues to be the occupants. Natural gas utilities publish safety information on how to recognize a natural gas leak with instructions on what to do for life safety. However, this approach has not always been dependable, as people are sometimes hesitant to report suspected leaks. In an effort to enhance natural gas safety, some utilities are considering supplementing traditional reports of suspected leaks with natural gas (methane) detectors/alarms and smart communication technology. Join us to learn about these detectors, their benefits, and their drawbacks and hear how two utilities have implemented their use.
The presenters for this webinar are:
Anne Chisholm, a partner in the law firm of Chisholm and Passeggio in Boston. For the past 30 years, she has concentrated her practice as a litigator defending and advising electric and natural gas utility companies, propane distributors, and various business clients. Anne has been lead trial counsel defending catastrophic personal injury and property damage cases in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, and has collaborated with local counsel in similar cases across the country. Anne graduated from Mount Holyoke College and her JD degree is from Boston University School of Law. She is licensed to practice in Massachusetts and New Hampshire state courts, and the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts. Anne is a member of the AEGIS Gas Litigation Service (AGLS).
Doug McKay, Associate General Counsel at Consolidated Edison Company of New York, oversees the Mass Torts and Workers' Compensation Department. Doug oversees all aspects of managing catastrophic tort litigation through case resolution. He has handled cases involving widespread electric outages, gas explosions, steam main ruptures, storm damages, and World Trade Center respiratory diseases. Doug has a Marine Engineering degree from SUNY Maritime College. He worked on ships before joining Con Edison as a shift supervisor in power generation. Doug managed capital construction projects while attending Fordham Law School at night. Upon graduating law school, he transitioned to the Law Department where he defended Con Edison in general litigation cases. Although his responsibilities have evolved, his job has remained constant – to diligently defend Con Edison by understanding how and why an incident occurred.
Walter Lundahl, is Assistant General Counsel and Director of Litigation at National Grid and manages the Tort Litigation section of National Grid’s legal department. The group also includes cyber security, data privacy, OSHA matters and asbestos litigation. Walter has a BS in Economics from the College of William & Mary and a JD from St. John’s University School of Law. Walter was a trial attorney with a litigation defense firm in the New York metropolitan area for 13 years, concentrating on the defense of construction accidents and professional malpractice cases before joining the Long Island Lighting Company as an in-house trial attorney. Walter tried numerous tort and commercial litigation matters for LILCO and later KeySpan, and upon the merger with National Grid took the role of Assistant General Counsel and Director of Litigation for National Grid’s US operations. Walter has been with the utility through its many mergers and consolidations for close to 24 years.
