The New York Public Service Commission alleged that National Grid plc’s violation of the agency’s gas safety regulations resulted in an explosion that damaged several homes in Little Falls, Herkimer County, and caused injuries, according to a Dec. 13 press release.

The department staff’s investigation found that a buried gas service line pulled away from the curb shut-off valve allowing gas to enter through an unsealed hole in the foundation where the service line enters the building, and that a sealant in the hole could have prevented the release.

The agency asked National Grid to show why a penalty action should not be commenced for the alleged violations including failure to ensure that covered tasks are performed by qualified individuals having the necessary knowledge and skills to complete the work in a manner that ensures safe pipeline operations.

National Grid has 45 days to respond to the commission’s order.