Gas Restoration Deadline Pushed Back To December

Credit: Karyn Regal/WBZ NewsRadio1030

LAWRENCE, MA (WBZ-AM) -- No heat and no hot water into December in the Merrimack Valley.  It was supposed to be on by November 19th. 

There are 8,400 gas meters that need to be relit after the gas explosions.  So far, just over a thousand have been Everyone was supposed to be back in service by November 19 after the Columbia Gas explosions.  They won't say Chief Recovery Officer Joe Albanese.

"We will complete gas restorations in all of their homes between dates of December 2nd and December 16th," Albanese said.

Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera, himself personally affected spoke for the three communities.

"Verbal commitments will no longer be acceptable to the City of the Towns," Rivera said.

In a statement, Andover Town Manager Andrew P. Flanagan expressed his frustration on the restoration process. 

"Today, something we feared was confirmed by Columbia Gas; that the plan rolled out more than a month ago to make our residents and businesses whole again will not meet its Nov. 19 goal. Thousands of residents and business owners in the Merrimack Valley remain without heat and hot water as temperatures quickly begin to drop and a cold, windy nor'easter bears down on New England this weekend."

The maps are being redrawn and officials from the Governor on down are demanding better communication from Columbia gas.

WBZ NewsRadio1030 Karyn Regal reports.


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