1 

Accelerated Main Renewal Program

(AMRP) 

April 11, 2012 

Michael Bruno & Jonathan Moe
2

Scope

Accelerated Main Renewal Program (AMRP) is a 

proactive program to renew aging main in Xcel 

Energy’s Colorado territory

Focusing on distribution main below 150 pounds 

per square inch (psi)
3

Scope

Total Mileage

Cast Iron (CI) – 120 Miles

Bare Steel (BS) – 99 Miles

Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) – 455 Miles

Started 2008 – Expected finish date 2029
4

Identifying Emission Sources

0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

0.8

0.9

20042005200620072008200920102011

Year

Leaks / Mile

Bare Steel

Cast Iron

PVC

Coated Steel

PE

Doesn’t contain third party damages, service leakage, or meter leakage
5

Emissions by Pipe Type

Type MCF/Mi/Yr

Bare Steel 110

Cast Iron 239

PVC 12

Coated Steel 3

PE 12

From the Xcel Energy Natural GasSTAR filing for 2010
6

Total Leakage Emissions

5%

14%

3%

12%

66%

Bare Steel

Cast Iron

PVC

Coated Steel

PE
7

Top Offenders

Three pipe types (CI, BS, and PVC) account for 24% 

of the yearly leakage emissions 

They represent only 3.4% of Xcel Energy’s 

distribution main
8

Top Offenders

The AMRP project targeted these three pipe types

Total Mileage (2008) 

Cast Iron – 120 Miles

Bare Steel – 99 Miles

PVC – 455 Miles
9

Project Risk Ranking

Leakage History

Corrosion Issues

Emissions

Pressure

Class Location
10

Project Planning

GIS

Passport

Optimain Planning 

Tool

Budget

Project 

List
11

Project Team 

Project 

Manager

Field 

Supervisors

Contractors

Engineering

Design 

Team

Planning
12

Regulatory Environment

Xcel Energy proactively approached the Colorado 

Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) about the 

project

As a result:

Xcel Energy has committed to renewal all cast 

iron, bare steel, and PVC main

Xcel Energy has committed to renew all of 

the cast iron in Colorado by 2015
13

Regulatory Environment

As a result:

3 Year Deal with annual reset

Annual Filing Requirement

Annual True Up Mechanism

Annual filing of results compared to plan

PUC can deny recovery
14

Progress to Date

Miles Renewed

Cast Iron – 89.1 Miles

Bare Steel – 12.7 Miles

PVC – 8.1 Miles

Total – 109.9 Miles
15

Miles Remaining By Year

-

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

400

450

500

2007

2008

200920102011

2012

2013

20142015

20162017

2018

20192020202120222023

2024

2025

Year

Miles Remaining

CI

Bare Steel

PVC
16

Leakage Emissions

-

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

50,000

2007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

Year

MSCF/Yr
17

Current Reduction Methods

System Pressure Reductions for tie ins and blow 

downs

Renewal of leaking main

Flaring
18

Future Reductions Methods

Mobile Compression Unit

Allows us to pump the gas out of a main into the 

surrounding gas system instead of releasing it 

into the atmosphere

Focused procedures designed to lower the amount 

of gas vented to the atmosphere during these 

projects
19

Xcel Energy 2010 GasSTAR Reductions

113,659 MSCF

74%

11%

9%

7%

Directed Inspection and

Maintenance

Modified Blow Down

Methods

Distribution Pipe Renewals

Instrument Systems

Converted to Air
20

Xcel Energy Cumulative Reductions

 Cumulative Reductions

181,618 MSCF

47%

20%

18%

15%

Directed Inspection and

Maintenance

Modified Blow Down Methods

Distribution Pipe Renewals

Instrument Systems

Converted to Air
21