AGA Awards Recognize Outstanding Safety Achievements

Each year, AGA presents the Meritorious Service Award to the individual or team whose actions in the previous year represent the highest standard of courage in our industry: saving a human life.

Ramiro Rodriguez, Crew Leader for Atmos Energy

During the catastrophic flooding that struck the Texas Hill Country on July 4, 2025, Ramiro woke to find neighbors gathering in his front yard in Kerrville, Texas, seeking refuge from rapidly rising floodwater. Over 20 inches of rain fell across the region, and the Guadalupe River surged with overwhelming force, submerging much of the Bumblebee Hills subdivision. Because Ramiro’s home sat on higher ground, it quickly became a safe zone for families fleeing danger in total darkness. Ramiro and his family opened their home without hesitation, offering shelter, calm, and stability during a moment of chaos.

When Ramiro realized that elderly neighbors Joe and Lily had not reached safety, he went to their home to check on them. He found them trapped in their garage while floodwater continued to rise. Using a tow strap as a guide through the hazardous current, Ramiro led them to higher ground and brought them safely into his home. His action prevented a tragic outcome and protected two lives that night.

Ramiro’s work didn’t end there. As the days and weeks unfolded, Ramiro continued to support his community as recovery and cleanup began. He offered strength, guidance and steady leadership during a long and difficult period.

“Ramiro demonstrated courage, quick action, and unwavering commitment to human life during a catastrophic event. His heroism on that night saved lives and stands as a powerful example of service in the natural gas industry,” said Harbert.

This award, sponsored by Heath Consultants, Inc., recognizes an individual who in the past five years has made an outstanding contribution to leak detection, prevention or repair.

Sabrina Dobron, General Engineer, Baltimore Gas and Electric

Tim Loskot, Supervisor for Leak Survey, Baltimore Gas and Electric

Sabrina Dobron and Tim Loskot worked rigorously to help advance the use and adoption of advance leak detection technologies and strategies at Baltimore Gas and Electric and Exelon. The pair led the company’s incorporation of new leak detection technologies and helped to undercover operational challenges and advance change management strategies for successful implementation. Sabrina and Tim led the company’s efforts to incorporate this new technology which will provide improvements in leak management. 

AGA annually presents this award to provide recognition to an individual, group or company who has made an outstanding contribution to improving the natural gas system safety, delivery, design, construction, operation, maintenance, efficiency or environmental footprint through their research and/or innovation efforts.

Comgás

Comgás is the largest piped natural gas distributor in Brazil. It has a network of more than 16 thousand kilometers, bringing natural gas to more than 1.9 million consumers in the residential, commercial and industrial segments in 88 municipalities. Its concession area is home to around 26% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, covering 177 cities in the metropolitan areas of São Paulo and Campinas, as well as in the Baixada Santista and Vale do Paraíba.

Comgás was selected to receive this award for its work on the methodology used in improving the measuring accuracy of its natural gas meters in its energy delivery system, which led to advances in the accuracy of gas volumes delivered to customers and improvements in the accounting of gas throughout its entire system. The work performed by Comgás benefits other natural gas utilities who are working to find solutions in addressing inherent challenges associated with the measurement of natural gas.

The Trailblazer Award recognizes individuals who have made a notable commitment in representing AGA on matters of policy or technology that made a meaningful and lasting impact on the natural gas industry. These individuals have championed their cause and benefited the entire natural gas utility community.

Phillip Murdock, Director of Engineering and Compliance, Atmos Energy Corporation

Phillip Murdock has a lifetime of leadership and achievement in the natural gas industry spanning a 50-year career. While at Atmos, he has managed numerous technical services functions, including pipeline measurement design, transmission technical training, GIS systems, system planning, right-of-way, reservoir engineering and transmission and distribution integrity management. In his current role, Phillip is responsible for maintaining procedures and Atmos’ operator qualification and public awareness programs. He has held leadership roles on several AGA committees and served several years as Chair of the Best Practices program which is AGA’s industry benchmarking program. Phillip has also provided countless presentations at a wide variety of AGA events to share his knowledge with the industry.

AGA member companies earn Safety Achievement Awards by experiencing the lowest incident rate for injuries or illnesses involving days away from work, restricted or transferred among companies of their size and type. 

Small Local Distribution Companies

Appalachian Natural Gas

Sycamore Gas Company

Greater Minnesota Gas, Inc.

Gainesville Regional Utilities

Northeast Ohio Natural Gas Corporation

The Energy Cooperative

Medium-Small Local Distribution Company

Minnesota Energy Resources Corporation

Medium-Large Local Distribution Company

Elizabethtown Gas

Large Local Distribution Company

Enbridge Gas North Carolina

TECO Peoples Gas

Very Large Local Distribution Company

Columbia Gas of Ohio

Comgás

Mega Local Distribution Company

ONE Gas, Inc.

Small Combination Utility

Superior Water, Light & Power Company

Medium Combination Utility

Orange & Rockland Utilities

Large Combination Utility

Liberty Utilities 

Transmission Company

Dow Pipeline

AGA member companies earn this award by experiencing the lowest reportable motor vehicle accident rate for companies of their size and type.

Local Distribution Company

SiEnergy

Combination Utility

Liberty Utilities 

Transmission Company

Southern Star Central Gas Pipeline

Small Member Companies

Eastward Energy

Appalachian Natural Gas

AGA member companies earn this award for their use of proactive mechanisms and initiatives to enhance safety culture.

Small Local Distribution Companies

Sycamore Gas Company

Frontier Natural Gas

Northeast Ohio Natural Gas Corporation

Medium-Large Local Distribution Company

Ameren Missouri

Large Local Distribution Company

Enbridge Gas North Carolina

Very Large Local Distribution Companies

Comgás

Summit Utilities, Inc.

Mega Local Distribution Companies

Public Service Electric and Gas

Duke Energy

Enbridge Gas, Inc.

Small Combination Utility

Delmarva Power

Medium Combination Utility

Orange & Rockland Utilities

Large Combination Utility

Liberty Utilities

Pacific Gas and Electric Company

Transmission Company

Dow Pipeline