Bismarck, ND- The state Public Service Commission has decided to hire an independent lab to test a section of natural gas pipe in which a leak was blamed for a house explosion in Fargo.
The September 2nd explosion injured five people and leveled the twin home.
Xcel Energy reported that a pinhole- sized gas leak in a section of the pipe allowed gas to get into the house.
Xcel says more tests are needed to find the cause of the leak, but says it`s not doing the testing. The company says the pipe is available to regulators.
The PSC wants to know if the leak was caused by brittle pipe.
Public Service Commissioner Kevin Cramer says independent any tests done by Xcel might be questioned.