When the Public Service Commission needs to know how something works or, just as importantly, how it should work, we turn to the experts in our Engineering Division.

Never heard of them? Sure, you have. When Governor Justice asked us last year to determine whether all of the state’s fire hydrants were in working order, it was the Commission’s engineering staff that got the job. They evaluated all of the information and wrote a thorough analysis of the entire situation. The division works on many other types of special projects, too, such as investigating last November’s natural gas and water outage on Charleston’s west side.

How should this sewer system operate? What’s the correct pressure for a water line? Is this gas line properly monitored? Is that electric circuit reliable? All of these essential questions and more are posed to the specialized staff of this division.

The Engineering Division is composed of professional engineers, engineering analysts, and technicians who have decades of specialized experience with the public utilities we regulate including: electric, natural gas, water, and sewer.

These experts know the intricacies and details of complex utility systems, ranging from the big picture (like area-wide electric demand forecasts) to the most mundane details (such as the safe gas pressure for your home). If we have a technical question about one of our regulated utilities, one of these experts will be able to answer it.

What this tiny division of 19 accomplishes is staggering. In addition to providing technical assistance to the Commission and Commission staff, this division is also tasked with conducting various investigations, including the evaluation of distressed or failing utilities; providing technical assistance on rate cases; reviewing requests for the construction of new facilities; working with the West Virginia Infrastructure Council to ensure that new water and sewer projects are appropriate and necessary; investigating customer complaints regarding quality of service; and providing technical assistance to the hundreds of small water and sewer systems serving the people of our state.

The Engineering Division is also responsible for all aspects of the Commission’s requirements that ensure your utility service is accurately measured and metered, including the testing of customer meters to ensure precision and the examination and certification of utility meter testing practices and personnel. They are essential to every aspect of our work. We couldn’t manage without them.

(Lane is chair of the West Virginia Public Service Commission)