(a) In this section, “nonpipeline alternative” means an investment or activity that defers, reduces, or eliminates the need to construct a new gas pipeline.
(b) Nothing in this section may be construed to restrict an investor-owned gas company’s ability to make improvements to its gas system to ensure the safe and reliable operation of the system.
(c) An investor-owned gas company may recover reasonable and prudent costs associated with a planned gas infrastructure investment if the investor-owned gas company demonstrates at a rate setting proceeding:
(1) the customer benefits of the investment;
(2) that the investor-owned gas company analyzed cost-effective options available to defer, reduce, or eliminate the need to replace, upgrade, or construct new components, including an analysis of:
(i) for new investments unrelated to safety, nonpipeline alternatives; and
(ii) leak detection and repair; and
(3) the estimated risk reduction associated with a safety-related investment, if applicable.