Gas restoration in Merrimack Valley could take several months, Columbia Gas says

ANDOVER, Mass. — It's been a week since the deadly gas explosions rocked the Merrimack Valley and many residents are still living without gas service to their homes.

The Town of Andover has made a trailer of 25 showers available at Pomps Pond for those who still can't take a hot shower from noon Thursday through the weekend -- and beyond if needed.

So when will gas be restored to those homes and businesses that are still waiting?

The latest update from Columbia Gas:

• Service to 7,605 customers has been restored
• About 1,400 customers are still waiting for restoration
• Columbia Gas says it has processed about 7,000 claims
• Property claims centers will be open again Thursday in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence

Businesses are also taking a big hit. In Andover alone, there are more than 100 still without gas service -- including 67 food establishments. Governor Charlie Baker spoke Wednesday about what's being done to help owners and employees of the affected businesses survive financially, so they can get back up and running soon.

"It’s hard to run a restaurant without hot water and without heat but there may be people for whom you can move pretty quickly to put in an electric water heater in place or an electric stove," Baker said.

Columbia Gas also announced that it is withdrawing its pending rate hike. The company president said they are fully committed to restoring service to affected communities, including replacing a 48-mile cast iron and steel distribution system that serves 8,600 customers with new plastic lines that have modern safety features like pressure regulation and excess flow valves.

Columbia Gas announced on their website on Thursday, exactly a week since the explosions happened, saying:

"We are turning gas service back on for the customers whose service was turned off but who are not on the gas system impacted by the incident. We expect restoration to take several months for those on the system directly impacted by the incident."

Cox Media Group