When it comes to utility rage around these parts, Pepco is the target of a majority of complaints. But perhaps we should be paying a little bit more attention to Washington Gas, if this ABC7 report is any indication.

Reporter Ben Eisler has been investigating complaints of gas leaks from pipes owned by the utility, and the results are less than reassuring:

Over a series of months, ABC 7 News has looked into Washington Gas. In the process, we obtained a surprising internal memo, sent during deliberations over how to address a spike of leaks in Prince George’s County. It reads, “We are NOT planning on an overall leak survey since that could result in finding new leaks” […] Three former employees describe leak evaluations as loose. They say while working for the company, they found a number of so-called Grade Ones—the most dangerous kind. But instead of immediately fixing them Washington Gas argued over the grade, and replaced them with someone who’d lower it.

The utility responded to the story with a statement stating that they had been inspected and that the claims were “reckless and false accusations, created by disgruntled former employees” — but in its most recent annual report, the District’s Public Service Commission found that WGL Holdings, Washington Gas’ parent company, “failed some of the timeline standards for responding to natural gas leaks.” That’s some worrying stuff, especially considering that the District has a history with gas-related infernos and leaks that send people to the hospital.