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January 13, 2003
Naperville, Ill. - January 13, 2003 - As of 5:30 p.m. today, Nicor Gas has restored the flow of natural gas to more than 95% of its system that was flooded Friday by the rupture of a Wilmette high pressure water main, and has restored service to more than 500 of the 1,030 affected customers. Nicor Gas crews are busily trying to restore gas service this evening, which also depends on their ability to gain access into customers' homes. The workers will complete the relighting of pilot lights and gas appliances and conduct safety inspections.
"While we have control over the water and the system is in safe operation, there was a lot of damage done," said Rocco D'Alessandro, senior vice president of operations for Nicor Gas.
"We are staffing up with additional resources, especially between 4 p.m. and 10 p.m. tonight when customers return home from work," he added. A force of more than 150 workers is on site relighting and providing repair services, and work will continue on a 24-hour basis until all customers are restored.
Customers should call: 1 888 NICOR4U (1 888 642-6748) as soon as they return home.
Assisting in the restoration process is Nicor Services, a sister company of Nicor Gas, which owns and operates two heating and appliance contactors. Crews from Tradewinds Heating and Air Conditioning and D.M. Dykstra & Company are on site to make professional repairs to furnaces and water heaters, at no cost to the customer. Nicor Gas also has plumbing contractors on call in the event of damaged water pipes, although this has been infrequent thus far.
All Nicor Gas employees carry proper identification and customers are urged to check identification as a security precaution.
The company has almost completed repairs to the entire affected system. Throughout the day, Nicor Gas has implemented different solutions to a few remaining problem sections affecting several blocks, and most are expected to be completed by this evening. Meanwhile, Nicor Gas has called upon those customers today and offered assistance with portable electric heaters and overnight accommodations. (Note to editors; we are not identifying these exact locations due to safety and security concerns for the residents.)
D'Alessandro is cautioning residents and businesses in the community that extensive repair work to the company's system will continue for some time. "The water damage was extensive and we had to dig a lot of holes in and along the streets to get service restored. In the coming weeks, we will have to make additional repairs, so residents can expect to see Nicor Gas vehicles and workers in their neighborhoods for some time. We pledge to complete the job and then return the area's landscaping and paving to what it was before this situation occurred. At all times, we'll be a good neighbor," he added.
Nicor Gas is one of the nation's largest gas distribution companies. Owned by Nicor, Inc. (NYSE: GAS) a holding company, Nicor Gas has provided safe, reliable natural gas services for more than 45 years. The Company serves two million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit the Nicor Web site at www.nicor.com.
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