Sec.16-16-3. Reporting requirements

(a) Immediate report. Each affected utility shall notify the Department of any major accident that occurred in Connecticut or affected Connecticut residents as soon as possible but no later than 24 hours after the occurrence or the utility's discovery of the accident. Such notification shall be electronically filed through the Department's Web Filing System, but may be made by telephone to the Department's main number [phone], or by fax to [phone], if the filer is unable to file the notification electronically.

(b) Five-day report. No later than five business days after the occurrence or discovery of a major accident that occurred in Connecticut or affected Connecticut residents, each affected utility shall submit a written report of the accident to the Department. Such report shall be electronically filed through the Department's Web Filing System; however, if the filer is unable to file the report electronically, such report may be submitted to the Department's Executive Secretary by regular U.S. mail or by fax. When additional relevant information is obtained or becomes available after a report has been submitted under this subsection, the utility shall file supplemental reports to the Department as deemed necessary with a clear reference by date and subject to the original report.

(c) Monthly report. No later than the tenth day of each month, each utility shall file with the Department a monthly accident report. Such report shall be in writing and shall list, in summary form, all minor and major accidents that occurred in Connecticut or affected Connecticut residents in the previous calendar month. All monthly reports shall be electronically filed through the Department's Web Filing System; however, if the filer is unable to file the monthly report electronically, it may be submitted to the Department's Executive Secretary by regular U.S. mail or by fax.

(d) Additional reporting requirements for gas companies.

(1) In addition to the reporting requirements contained in subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of this section, each affected gas company shall notify the Department's Gas Pipeline Safety Unit of any major accident that occurred in Connecticut or affected Connecticut residents as soon as possible but no later than one hour after the occurrence or the gas company's discovery of the accident. Such notification shall be made in accordance with any existing procedures established by the Department's Gas Pipeline Safety Unit.

(2) The provisions of sections 16-16-1 to 16-16-3, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies are in addition to, and not in place of, any reporting or notification requirements prescribed in any federal laws or other state statutes or regulations that govern natural gas, flammable gas, liquefied natural gas or other gas that is toxic or corrosive. A gas company's compliance with any such federal laws or other state statutes or regulations shall not be a substitute for compliance with sections 16-16-1 to 16-16-4, inclusive, of the Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies.

(e) Required information. Each report required under this section shall include the following information, to the extent known, for each accident:

(1) Identification of persons making the report or notification, including name and contact information such as telephone numbers and business and email address;

(2) Names of all affected utilities;

(3) The exact time and location of the accident;

(4) A description of the accident and extent of injuries, including total number of fatalities, if any;

(5) Total number of injured employees and any available information about the injured employees such as job title, age and contact information;

(6) Total number of injured persons other than the utility's employees, with any available information such as name, age and contact information;

(7) All known significant facts or information relevant to the cause of the accident or the extent of the injuries or damages;

(8) Actions already taken by the utility at the time of the report, and immediate actions the utility plans to undertake with regard to the accident; and

(9) Corrective actions, if any, taken or planned by the utility to mitigate future similar occurrences.

(f) Exceptions. Notwithstanding subsections (a) through (d) of this section, a utility is not required to report the following types of accidents:

(1) Non-fatal injuries associated with vehicular accidents involving a utility's poles or other facilities but not involving the utility's employees or operation;

(2) Minor personal injuries on utility property unrelated to utility system operations, such as paper cuts, bee stings, muscle strains or routine slip and fall type events;

(3) Contacts with secondary electrical lines, where no injury is reported or known to have occurred, such as a tingle felt by a homeowner painting a house and touching a service wire;

(4) Structure fires where a utility's only involvement is disconnection of service; and

(5) Downed or fallen wires that do not directly affect or threaten the safety of any members of the public.

(Adopted effective July 7, 2010)