Columbia Gas Executives Schedule Merrimack Valley Meetings

NORTH ANDOVER, MA -- Columbia Gas of Massachusetts executives will be in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover Saturday to speak with residents about the ongoing recovery from the Sept. 13 gas explosions. Chief Operating Officer Mark Kempic, who will become president of the utility later this year, and Vice President Kirk Cresto, who took over the recovery effort for the utility earlier this year, will be on hand to answer questions.

The meetings are scheduled for the following times and places on Saturday, March 9:

• 9-11 am: Doherty Middle School, 50 Bartlet Street, Andover, MA 01810
• Noon - 2 pm: Lawrence High School, 70-71 N Parish Road, Lawrence, MA 01843
• 3-5 pm: North Andover Senior Center, 120 R Main Street, North Andover, MA 01845

Columbia Gas has until next Halloween to repave roads, fix sidewalks and replace furnaces and boilers that were repaired to get residents in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence through the winter under a deadline set in December by the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities. That deadline falls more than 13 months after the gas explosions that killed one, injured more than 20 and damaged or destroyed more than 130 buildings in the Merrimack Valley.

In January, Columbia Gas said it would cover the cost of repairs for residential customers in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence through May 2020, including appliances, piping and labor. The coverage is for equipment that was installed by Columbia Gas and its subcontractors in the months following the Sept. 13 gas explosions. For business customers, the coverage extends one year from the date of installation.

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