CITY HALL — The number of investigations Con Edison conducted to find out if customers were stealing gas or tampering with pipes and connections fell 13 percent in 2015, DNAinfo New York has learned.
Con Ed conducted 8,076 investigations last year compared to 9,300 in 2014, a figure some gas experts said was already too low given the utility's 1.1 million customers, according to data from the utility.
The number of cases of gas theft or diversion also fell 14 percent to 129 from 150.
Meanwhile, the number of gas-related investigations and violations has increased at other agencies.
The Department of Buildings investigated 1,133 gas connection complaints in 2015, up from 611 in 2014 — an 85 percent increase. The agency also issued 381 violations for illegal or defective gas hookups in 2015, compared to 226 in 2014 — a 68.5 percent increase.
DOB also conducted 343 inspections of gas plumbing in 2015 after receiving a referral from Con Edison under a newly implemented process "following the East Village explosion," said a DOB spokesman.
That's up from 67 inspections referred by Con Ed from the year before.
“Under a newly designed policy, Con Edison and the Department now immediately alert each other when an inspection indicates an illegal or unsafe gas hook-up," the spokesman said.
"This ensures that enforcement action is taken by both agencies and that gas service remains suspended until all unsafe conditions have been resolved."
At National Grid, which also has 1.2 million customers in Brooklyn, parts of Queens and Staten Island, the agency discovered 700 instances of gas theft and "made them safe without incidence," said spokeswoman Karen Young.
That number is up from 500 the year before, a 40 percent increase.
Con Ed spokesman Alan Drury said the fluctuation in the number of violations and investigations was random.
“Con Edison takes seriously any reports of possible theft of electricity or gas service since these cases may jeopardize people’s safety," Drury said.
"Year-to-year stats invariably fluctuate based on numerous random factors.”
The utility uses tips from customers, it's workers and an algorithm to spot possible cases of gas theft or tampering.
"We investigate all tips," Drury said. "We get more in some years than in others."
The drop in the number of investigations and cases of gas theft comes in the aftermath of the deadly East Village gas explosion and building collapses that killed two men last year and injured 22 others.
Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. indicted four people for manslaughter in the incident this month including the building's owner, her son and a building contractor and plumber.
Investigators and prosecutors say they illegally tapped into the gas lines of a nearby building to provide gas to tenants in renovated apartments.
The City Council cited the deadly explosion last week when they introduced a package of legislation designed to increase oversight and inspections of the city's gas infrastructure.
One bill sponsored by City Councilman Rafael Espinal, of Brooklyn, would require regular inspection of buildings' gas piping systems.
"It is surprising that the number of inspections has gone down," Espinal said of Con Ed. "That's why we have to make sure buildings are safe for tenants."
Manhattan Councilman Mark Levine, a co-sponsor of the legislation, said, "We require regular inspections of elevators, sprinkler systems and fire escapes. When there's a question of physical safety at stake there is a need for regular inspection."
Another bill sponsored by Queens Councilman Donovan Richards would require the mayor to appoint an agency to oversee gas safety issues.
Richards said he'd like to see the city and the utilities work together better to prevent tragic explosions like the one in East Harlem in 2014 and the East Village blast.
"There are risk factors that the city, working with the gas companies, can identify. We want to catch the bad actors, the people cutting corners to save a few dollars," said Richards.
"If we can identify a cracked pipe or illegal hookup early, maybe we can prevent a tragedy."
