The bill mandates the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) to provide an annual report to the Joint Committees on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy, and Public Safety and Homeland Security regarding natural gas leaks in the state's distribution system. This report, as stipulated by An Act Relative to Natural Gas Leaks, will include comprehensive data on the number of Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 leaks, estimates for lost and unaccounted-for natural gas (LAUF) and methane emissions, and the time and cost estimates for addressing the backlog of leaks. The report aims to tackle public safety, service reliability, and environmental issues linked to aging infrastructure, particularly cast-iron and non-cathodically protected steel pipes.

The bill introduces significant reforms to the Gas System Enhancement Plan (GSEP), requiring gas distribution companies to explore alternatives to traditional pipe replacement and to consider the costs and benefits of their plans concerning greenhouse gas emissions. It reduces the revenue cap for GSEP spending from 3.0 percent to 2.5 percent, with allowances for exceeding this cap for non-pipe alternatives. The DPU will monitor the progress of various gas distribution companies in replacing aging infrastructure, ensuring that public safety and environmental concerns are prioritized in line with the new regulatory framework established by the 2024 Climate Act.