Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings and Rules  
611 West Ottawa Street; 2nd Floor, Ottawa Building  
Lansing, MI 48933  
Phone: (517) 335-8658 FAX: (517) 335-9512  
REQUEST FOR RULEMAKING (RFR)  
Under the Administrative Procedures Act (APA), 1969 PA 306, the agency that has the statutory authority  
to promulgate rules must electronically file an RFR with the Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings  
and Rules (MOAHR) before initiating any changes or additions to the rules. Please submit the RFR to  
orr@michigan.gov.  
1. Agency Information:  
Agency name: Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs  
Division/Bureau/Office: Public Service Commission  
Name, title, phone number, and e-mail of person Alissa Day, Administrative Law Specialist  
completing this form:  
517-284-8085, daya@michigan.gov  
2. Rule Set Information:  
Title of proposed rule set: Technical Standards for Gas Service  
Rule number(s) or range of numbers: R 460.2301 through R 460.2384  
Included in agency’s annual regulatory plan as rule to be processed in current year? Yes  
3. Estimated timetable for completion, or statutory deadline, if applicable:  
12 months  
4. Describe the general purpose of these rules, including any problem(s) the changes are intended to  
address:  
These rules apply to natural gas utility service provided by utilities that are subject to the  
jurisdiction of the Public Service Commission. The rules are intended to promote safe and  
adequate gas service to the public, to provide technical standards for uniform and reasonable  
practices by gas utilities, and to encourage efficiency and safety. Changes to these rules are  
supported by the Commission and by the regulated industry. The most significant issue these  
amendments will address is the out-of-date technical standards referenced in the current rules. In  
addition, to accommodate evolving conditions in the energy industry, a waiver provision has been  
added to the rules. The Commission is also proposing to update the rule concerning statistical  
sampling of customer meters to provide utilities the option to select among various standards for  
meter selection and testing. And, the Commission proposes to establish a standard for the  
allowable concentration of oxygen in natural gas to address concerns about corrosion and costly  
damage to gas storage facilities. Finally, the Commission is proposing a security rule to address  
concerns about cybersecurity. This proposed rule is largely identical to the cybersecurity rule that  
has been promulgated in the Technical Standards for Electric Service.  
5. Cite the specific rule promulgation authority (i.e. agency director, commission, board, etc.,  
listing all applicable statutory references. If the rule(s) are mandated by any applicable  
constitutional or statutory provision, please explain.  
These rules are promulgated pursuant to the Commission’s authority under MCL 460.6 and MCL  
483.152.  
6. Describe the extent to which the rule(s) conflict with, duplicate, or exceed similar regulations,  
compliance requirements, or other standards adopted at the state, regional, or federal level.  
Include applicable public act and statutory references.  
Revised: May 29, 2019  
MCL 24.239  
RFR – Page 2  
These rules do not conflict with or duplicate rules or regulations adopted by the state or federal  
government.  
7. Is the subject matter of the rule(s) currently contained in any guideline, manual, handbook,  
instructional bulletin, form with instructions, or operational memo?  
No, however the rules adopt by reference certain national engineering and technical standards.  
8. Explain whether the rule(s) will be promulgated under Sections 44 or 48 of the APA or the full  
rulemaking process:  
These rules will be promulgated under the “full” rulemaking process as provided in the  
Administrative Procedures Act.  
9. Do the rule(s) incorporate the recommendations of any Advisory Rules Committee formed  
pursuant to Executive Order 2011-5? If yes, explain.  
There is no Advisory Rules Committee applicable to these rules.  
10. Is there an applicable decision record as defined in Section 3(6) and required by Section 39(2) of  
the APA? If so, please attach the decision record.  
There is no applicable decision record for these rules.  
11. Reviewed by the following Departmental Regulatory Affairs Officer:  
Liz Arasim  
Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs  
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↓ To be completed by MOAHR ↓  
Date RFR received:7-16-2019  
Based on the information in this RFR, MOAHR concludes that there are sufficient policy  
and legal bases for approving the RFR.  
MOAHR assigned rule set number: 2019-061 LR  
Date of approval:  
7/18/19  
Based on the information in this RFR, MOAHR is not approving the RFR at this time.  
Date of disapproval:  
Explanation:  
Revised: May 29, 2019  
MCL 24.239  
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