Columbia Gas Says It Won't Take Space Heaters

ANDOVER, MA -- A spokesperson for Columbia Gas of Massachusetts said Sunday that while it will retain rights to some of the equipment it installed on a temporary basis in Merrimack Valley homes, it doesn't plan to take back space heaters and "is committed to permanently restoring customers with new appliances and equipment." The response came after an earlier report that implied the utility might retain rights to expensive heating equipment, including pellet stoves and space heaters, that residents had bought and been reimbursed for by the utility.

"Columbia Gas will have rights to some of the equipment we install in a temporary capacity and in some cases it may make most sense for the customer and insurance process to remove those temporary solutions when permanent solutions are ready," spokesperson Judy Rakowsky said. "Every case is unique."

Earlier on Sunday, the Eagle-Tribune reported that some residents spent thousands of dollars on the equipment, including pellet stoves that require permanent installation and that the utility was claiming rights to that equipment if the residents had applied to be reimbursed by the utility.

While trying to restore service to residents in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence that have been without heat and hot water by November 19, the utility has been simultaneously undertaking a massive relief effort to make sure residents without heat have temporary heating or alternative shelter. The Sept. 13 gas explosions destroyed or damaged 131 buildings, injured more than 25 people and killed one.

We "would like to avoid any anxiety affected customers worrying that someone is going to take away their space heater, particularly as the mercury dips," Rokowsky said.

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Patch file photo.