Brandon, Manitoba, is taking legal action against Manitoba Hydro following an explosion that resulted in injuries and significant property damage at the city’s public services complex. The blast, which occurred nearly two years ago, is reportedly linked to failures in the management of the natural gas system within the facility.
The incident transpired on September 7, 2023, in the mechanical room of the civic services complex, primarily used for city administration and housing the bus fleet. According to the lawsuit filed in Manitoba’s Court of King’s Bench on August 27, the explosion was caused by “overpressure” in the building’s natural gas system, which the city claims resulted from Manitoba Hydro’s negligence. Centra Gas Manitoba Inc., a subsidiary of Manitoba Hydro, is named as a co-defendant in the case.
The explosion ensued shortly after Manitoba Hydro technicians conducted work on the natural gas meter just days prior to the incident. According to the city’s statement, employees were directed to remove a gas regulator deemed unnecessary. On the day of the explosion, following an inspection of the pipeline, city staff were instructed to address a leak, which was completed later that day. An approval was then granted to restore natural gas, leading to a series of actions that ultimately resulted in the explosion when gas released into the mechanical room ignited.
The city’s lawsuit outlines that the natural gas system was inadequately equipped to handle the pressures from a newly installed meter. Previously, a gas regulator had reduced the pressure to a safe level, but the new system was described as delivering much higher pressure directly to appliances. The city argues that this lack of an appropriate regulator caused the catastrophic overpressure situation that led to the explosion.
Following the incident, Manitoba Hydro promptly reinstated the gas regulator and removed the new meter. The city is now seeking compensation for repairs, damaged property, engineering services, as well as costs incurred from insurance adjusters and investigative efforts.
No formal responses to the allegations have been filed by the defendants, and it is important to note that these claims remain unproven in court. Manitoba Hydro acknowledged the lawsuit and indicated that they would respond appropriately in due time.
Compounding the city’s concerns, a recent review suggested that undersized gas service lines contributed to the explosion. A request was made in July for an upgrade to a larger natural gas meter to manage a greater load. An engineering assessment revealed that the existing service line, installed in the 1990s, is insufficient for the pressure requirements needed by the building. The engineer’s conclusion pointed to a need for a four-inch diameter line, as opposed to the outdated two-inch line.
In light of these developments, the City is also working on final inspections of the civic services complex, with plans to restore normal operations in the upcoming fall season. City officials have refrained from commenting further, referring inquiries to their legal counsel, while the implications of the lawsuit stand to impact the community’s infrastructure and safety measures.