I am SVP, Regulatory & External Affairs for Roanoke Gas Company and we are opposed to HB139. While we are grateful that Delegate Simonds worked with us on this bill and made many changes we requested, we must oppose this bill.
We are a small natural gas distribution utility, serve about 63,500 customers. Due to the nature of the work, we and our contractors, have highly specialized workforces. Our workers are operator qualified as required by the SCC's pipeline safety division. Our job sites are subject to random inspections by the SCC. Therefore we do not believe our workforce and the workforce of our contractors, need the protections this bill is intended to provide. The administrative workload associated with continuing compliance with prevailing wages by localities, which are subject to change, would result in higher rates for our customers.
In addition, we are concerned about the provisions contained in the bill that would subject us to private right of actions and make us liable for actions that may be taken by our contractors.
For these reasons, I ask that you vote against the bill.
I am SVP, Regulatory & External Affairs for Roanoke Gas Company and we are opposed to HB139. While we are grateful that Delegate Simonds worked with us on this bill and made many changes we requested, we must oppose this bill. We are a small natural gas distribution utility, serve about 63,500 customers. Due to the nature of the work, we and our contractors, have highly specialized workforces. Our workers are operator qualified as required by the SCC's pipeline safety division. Our job sites are subject to random inspections by the SCC. Therefore we do not believe our workforce and the workforce of our contractors, need the protections this bill is intended to provide. The administrative workload associated with continuing compliance with prevailing wages by localities, which are subject to change, would result in higher rates for our customers. In addition, we are concerned about the provisions contained in the bill that would subject us to private right of actions and make us liable for actions that may be taken by our contractors. For these reasons, I ask that you vote against the bill.