A major operation to restore gas supplies to homes in East Barnet continues today (Boxing Day). Engineers from National Grid and Veolia Water have been working together to identify the cause of larger than expected volumes of water in the gas network, which have been hampering efforts to reconnect gas customers.
Several hundred homes are currently affected by loss of gas supplies.
Harry Buchanan, National Grid incident controller, said: “We have been working closely with Veolia Water to reconnect gas supplies. We have identified some issues on our networks which have now been resolved, and as a result we believe we will now be able to make significant headway in reconnecting customers.
“I would like to apologise to residents for the discomfort caused as a result of the loss of their gas supplies during the last week and assure them that our engineers will work throughout the festive season and late into the night to remove the remaining water from the system and restore supplies. We won’t go home until everyone has been reconnected.”
Safety is our top priority and people must not try to turn their own gas supply back on. An engineer will call to reconnect the supply safely when it is safe to do so.
National Grid has written to residents giving information about compensation for loss of gas supplies which will be provided under the company’s Standards of Service. There will also be additional payments for those residents without gas on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.
An incident room has been set up in St Mary’s Church of England Primary School in Littlegrove. Heating appliances have been distributed to affected households.
To help National Grid restore gas supplies, it is important that the electricity network in Barnet is maintained. Residents are asked to use only essential electricity appliances and switch off any non-essential appliances.
ENDS
If you are a local resident and have any enquiries about the loss of gas supply in East Barnet, please call 0845 605 6677.
If you smell gas please ring the National Gas Emergency service on 0800 111 999.
For Media enquiries, please call 078664 88894 or 07917 211116.