Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

TIVERTON -- Some 400 National Grid natural gas customers are still without gas after a distribution system problem that resulted in dramatic gas pressure drop yesterday.

About 826 customers were without gas service last night.

The cause of the distribution problem is still under investigation, said Debbie Drew, a spokeswoman for the utility company.

The affected customers are in the North Tiverton area, from the town's Stone Bridge section to the Fall River, Mass., line.

Among those affected yesterday was Sakonnet Bay Manor on Main Road, where some 150 elderly people live.

National Grid delivered a special truck of compressed natural gas to serve the senior citizen building while regular service was restored. As of this morning, the building is back on the system, Drew said.

The Tiverson School District canceled classes today at its middle school, as it is the town's emergency shelter, where those without gas were encouraged to go yesterday. The shelter was closed at 3:30 a.m. due to lack of demand, the fire department confirmed this morning.

Temperatures fell into the mid-20s to low 30s overnight, prompting a freeze warning from the National Weather Service. Tonight, temperatures are expected to remain in the 30s.

National Grid workers have been working overnight to restore service and will continue through the day today.

Drew said workers completed overnight the purging of the system, removing all air, and putting gas into the system.

To do that, workers had to get access into all households and businesses to turn off the meters. When customers were not home, locksmiths were called in and the police escorted the workers, standard procedure in those instances, Drew said.

With the system re-pressurized with gas, workers will continue going into homes and businesses to turn the system back on.

"We are experiencing what we call 'can't get ins, CGIs," Drew said, noting customers can call the gas company to set up an appointment if no one will be at the residence. National Grid workers will also call customers and leave notes to alert them the service is yet to be restored.

-- With archival reports

 Tags  RI Tiverton

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