Millions to be spent for pipeline replacements

Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio plans to install about $34 million of natural gas pipeline across its Ohio coverage area as part of an ongoing project to improve existing infrastructure.

“That’s actually ramped up … we had been spending between $15 and $18 million (a year),” said Colleen Ryan, president of Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio. “It is important to continue to improve our infrastructure.”

Ryan said the company has been able to spend additional money on infrastructure because of the improving economy in the region and positive results from replacement work already completed across the state.

Since 2008, the utility provider has spent more than $90 million on infrastructure improvements through its pipeline replacement program in the Miami Valley. The program allows the company to replace aging, bare-steel or cast iron pipes, with industry standard plastic piping, Ryan said.

“We have what we’re calling modernization projects that include our replacement of our older, bare-steel and cast iron pipes in our service territory,” Ryan told this newspaper. “It is still safe, but as we have gone through and replaced with the new plastic pipe, we’re seeing a decrease in leak calls.”

Vectren is expected to replace approximately 60 miles of natural gas pipeline in 14 cities across the region this year.

Centerville is one municipality scheduled for pipe replacement this year, and some local officials are optimistic about the potential for the new pipelines to attract additional business to the city.

“We want to be in a position to offer potential businesses or businesses that expand in the city, the best utilities, the best infrastructure, roadway systems that we can offer,” said Mary Lou Pence, public works operation manager for the city of Centerville. “It’s a competitive market, and this helps.”

Dayton, Miamisburg and Piqua are expected to receive the most piping replaced in 2015. Dayton will have 24.3 miles replaced, while Miamisburg and Piqua will each have around five miles of pipe installed.

Ryan said Vectren expects to replace natural gas pipeline across the region over the next decade. To date, Ryan said the company has replaced 200 miles of its approximately 700 miles of pipeline.

Projects scheduled to occur during 2015 will affect 6,020 customers in the Miami Valley.