Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) is getting the jump on its methane leak detection requirements and employing new tools to detect the greenhouse gas as it aims to inspect 1.2 million pieces of equipment this year throughout its California distribution system.

The San Francisco-based utility has started the next leg of its three-year methane hunt across its 42,000-mile distribution system. Surveyors will be using handheld leak detection devices when inspecting customer meters and service lines.

PG&E serves 16 million customers across 70,000 square miles in Northern and Central California. On top of covering a large swath of the state, the utility also uses an accelerated three-year inspection schedule instead of the state required five-year plan.

“Over the course of...