“And again, that is probably something that will be put into our next base-rate case,” Durbin says. “We have not had one of those since 2008 and we do not have a timetable on when we will file a future rate case to recover these costs."

The 2011 fire severely damaged 11 homes and inflicted 1.3 million dollars in property damage.

In its report Wednesday, the PUCO says leaking gas pipes caused regulating devices to malfunction and the facility to explode.

PUCO spokesman Jason Gilham says $500,000 was the biggest amount it could issue by law, but the commission could fine more if the incident repeats itself.