State utility regulators plan to look further into accusations that a Baltimore Gas and Electric employee failed to property inspect gas pipelines and filed false reports.

The Maryland Public Service Commission said Thursday it is opening a new case to investigate its engineering division’s findings in April of gaps in BGE’s gas system safety inspection program.

The commission has assigned the case to Kristin Case Lawrence, the incoming chief public utility law judge who will move into the new role July 1.

Lawrence is expected to investigate, make recommendations and rule on the need for an independent audit of BGE’s inspection protocols.

If an independent audit is warranted, it will be paid for by shareholders of Exelon Corp., BGE’s parent company, the commission said.

“Due to the seriousness of the allegations raised and the findings of the Engineering Division, we have asked the Chief Judge to thoroughly examine all of the issues and questions raised by the parties,” Frederick H. Hoover, chair of the PSC, said in Thursday’s announcement.

Fourteen former BGE employees accused the utility in December of mismanaging pipeline safety contract work. Those allegations were part of the former employees’ petition to intervene in a BGE rate-setting case before the commission, in which they argued consumers should not bear rate increases tied to mismanaged projects.

BGE responded in a state filing last month that it fired a former employee last year for failing to inspect assigned crews on multiple occasions and complete performance reports on company contractors. BGE said that on numerous occasions the inspector made stops on company time at a private marina where he kept a boat, instead of completing assigned work, and that he falsified time sheets and payroll records.

But BGE disputed key findings in the PSC’s engineering division. The utility said the report inaccurately concluded that the unacceptable job performance of a single former BGE worker jeopardized the safety of the gas pipeline system.

“Despite the unfortunate actions of the former employee, they did not compromise the safety of BGE’s gas system,” BGE said in the state filing in April.

A BGE spokesman on Thursday reiterated that the former employee in question was not responsible for safety inspections.

“We look forward to participating in this proceeding to further assure the Commission and parties that safety of the gas and electric systems is our number one priority,” Nick Alexopulos said in an email to The Baltimore Sun.

The PSC staff report had found gaps in BGE’s compliance oversight, quality assurance of work and verification of gas distribution system records.

It said an “acknowledged pattern of falsification of records suggests a non-trivial violation of inspection integrity and safety protocols, increasing the potential for risks to the gas distribution system and public safety.”

The Maryland Office of People’s Counsel, the state’s utility ratepayer advocate, agreed that the report raised concerns about the utility’s gas infrastructure inspection processes, the safety of portions of its gas distribution system and costs related to gas infrastructure work.

After the utility law judge issues a final report with recommendations, the commission plans to hear responses from all parties before ruling on the case.

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