Propane Dealers Can't Keep Up With Sudden Merrimack Valley Demand

ANDOVER, MA -- Residents still facing weeks without gas service in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover have been turning -- unsuccessfully, in many cases -- to propane dealers as a temporary solution. Residents report phone calls that don't get returned from some companies, while other companies are saying they are not taking new customers. For residents who have gone three weeks without heat, hot water or cooking gas -- and could be facing more than another six weeks before service is restored -- it's just more bad news.

The Sept. 13 gas explosions that destroyed or damaged more than 60 buildings in the Merrimack Valley also left more than 7,500 customers without gas service. Restoring service to all those customers could take until November 19, as Columbia of Gas of Massachusetts has to replace 45 miles of underground transmission lines, as well as individual service lines to the affected homes.

The Andover Fire Department normally prohibits residents from using propane in houses where gas is available. But residents can use propane if they are affected by the widespread outage. Permits are required and the town has a complete checklist for people considering propane.

But that only helps if you can find a company willing to install the equipment and then sell and deliver the propane to your home. Calls to Haffners on Tuesday and Wednesday were not returned -- mirroring the experience reported by several residents on Andover, Lawrence and North Andover Facebook groups. A customer service representative at Amerigas said the company only had one technician and 60 requests for service. As a result, the rep said, the company was not taking on new customers.

Never miss another local news story: Get free local news alerts right to your inbox.

Photo by Amerigas.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).