PUC plans test in gas explosion investigation

The South Dakota Public Utilities Commission plans to conduct a third-party forensic test as part of an ongoing investigation on the cause of a natural gas explosion that destroyed two Mitchell homes and damaged others in March. A home owned by Robert and Jeanne Lorenz and another owned by Dennis Burnham, both in the 1600 block of Bridle Drive, were destroyed by an explosion March 8. The blast also caused damage to other houses in the immediate area. NorthWestern Energy officials have never said what specifically caused the explosion. However, it’s suspected that a portion of a natural gas pipe from NorthWestern Energy’s distribution system failed and leaked natural gas, causing the explosion, according to PUC documents.

By: Sarah Dittmer, The Daily Republic