Steeton - Loss of gas incident
Update 6 - Thursday 5th January, 2012 at 09:34
The majority of supplies are now back on in Steeton after strong winds damaged gas equipment supplying the village.
The damage was done on Tuesday morning (3 January 2012) and knocked the supply off to around 1600 properties. Engineers quickly carried out a repair at the gale damaged site and then focused on the process of turning supplies back on. This stage takes time as each property needs to be visited individually so that vital safety checks can be completed.
Extra engineers were drafted in to make sure this process could be carried out as quickly as possible and they worked until around 10pm last night (4 January) visiting affected customers door-to-door to turn on supplies. They are back in Steeton working again today to ensure that every last property is reconnected.
There are still a number of properties that engineers have been unable to gain access to. Customer Operations Area Manager Ian Cunningham said: "We have now got most properties back on gas and have visited all those we can't get inside three times. We are concerned that there are still some customer without gas, it’s vital they don’t try to turn the supply back on themselves, this is a job for a qualified gas engineer. We are asking anyone still without gas to call us on 0845 6340508 (select option 5) to arrange for their supply to be safely restored."
"We would like to say sorry to anyone affected and to thank them them for showing us patience and understanding while we continue to work in their village."
Customer drop-in centre
Customers who want to speak with someone face-to-face can continue to visit the temporary drop-in centre at the Sailors and Soldiers' Club today where Northern Gas Networks representatives are on hand with information and advice.
Contacting us
If you do not have your supply back on, please can we ask you to call us on 0845 6340508 (select option 5) to arrange for a convenient time for us to visit. Please do not attempt to turn the supply back on yourself.
Protecting yourself from bogus callers
Customers are reminded to check the identity of all doorstep callers. All Northern Gas Networks engineers carry identity cards and will be happy to show them when asked.
Smell of gas
If anyone smells gas they should immediately call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999.
Update 5 - Wednesday 4th January, 2012 at 17:23
Hundreds of customers in Steeton have now had their gas supplies restored, and we anticipate we will re-connect the majority of affected properties this evening.
Engineers will remain on site late into the evening and will visit each affected property three times. If they are unable to gain access to restore the supply, they will leave a card with contact details for customers to arrange for an engineer to call and re-connect their supply.
Restoring supplies is a time consuming process as it needs to be carried out in a safe and controlled manner. It is important that people do not try to do this themselves, it is a job for a qualified gas engineer as there are critical safety checks that must be carried out.
If customers know they are going to be out, they might want to make arrangements with a friend or neighbour so that we can get their gas back on at the earliest opportunity.
We would like to remind customers to check the identity of all door-step callers, official gas engineers carry identity cards and are always happy to show ID on request.
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and reassure customers that our engineers are working hard to get things back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.
Welfare facilities:
We continue to operate welfare facilities at Keighley Leisure Centre. Hot food, soup and sandwiches are available until 10pm tonight. A free shuttle bus is picking up in Steeton outside Airedale Hospital and the Mill Lane bus stop on the hour and half-past the hour throughout the day.
Contacting us:
The drop-in centre at the Sailors and Soldiers Club in Steeton is still operating and will be open until 10pm tonight. Vulnerable customers are advised to contact customer services on 0191 5116940 if they have any issues.
Protecting yourself from bogus callers:
Our engineers carry identity cards and will be happy to show them. Please check the identity of anyone calling at your door.
Smell of gas:
Please call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 immediately if you smell gas.
Update 4 - Wednesday 4th January, 2012 at 13:44
Engineers have started to restore gas supplies to properties in Steeton, near Keighley.
Gas supplies to around 1,600 homes were cut off after high winds damaged gas equipment yesterday (January 3rd). Repairs to the equipment were completed yesterday afternoon and engineers worked until late last night visiting all affected properties to ensure the gas supply was safely turned off.
Now this is complete, they are able to begin the process of restoring the supplies. They will visit vulnerable customers first before moving throughout the rest of the village.
Engineers will need to visit every affected property to carry out important safety checks before turning the gas supply back on.
Restoring supplies is a time consuming process as it needs to be carried out in a safe and controlled manner. It is important that people do not try to do this themselves, it is a job for a qualified gas engineer as there are critical safety checks that must be carried out.
If customers know they are going to be out, they might want to make arrangements with a friend or neighbour so that we can get their gas back on at the earliest opportunity.
We would like to remind customers to check the identity of all door-step callers, official gas engineers carry identity cards and are always happy to show ID on request.
Until supplies are fully restored, customers are advised to stagger their use of electrical appliances wherever possible to help prevent overloading the local electricity supply network with the extra demand.
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and reassure customers that our engineers are working hard to get things back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.
Welfare facilities:
We continue to operate welfare facilities at Keighley Leisure Centre. Hot food, soup and sandwiches are available until 10pm tonight. A free shuttle bus is picking up in Steeton outside Airedale Hospital and the Mill Lane bus stop on the hour and half-past the hour throughout the day.
Contacting us:
The drop-in centre at the Sailors and Soldiers Club in Steeton is still operating and will be open until 10pm tonight. Vulnerable customers are advised to contact customer services on 0191 5116940 if they have any issues.
Compensation:
This will be paid automatically to customers via their gas supplier if the supply is interrupted for more than 24 hours. The rate is nationally agreed and set at £30 for every 24-hour period without gas.
Protecting yourself from bogus callers:
Our engineers carry identity cards and will be happy to show them. Please check the identity of anyone calling at your door.
Smell of gas:
Please call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 immediately if you smell gas.
Update 3 - Wednesday 4th January, 2012 at 07:58
Engineers continue to work hard to restore gas supplies to around 1,600 properties in Steeton near Keighley after high winds damaged gas equipment.
Repairs were completed yesterday afternoon (3 January 2012) and engineers worked until late last night on the process of safely restoring supplies. Teams will resume door-to-door visits again this morning.
Restoring supplies is a time consuming process as it needs to be carried out in a controlled and safe manner. Engineers now need to visit each individual property to carry out important safety checks before turning the gas back on. We would like to remind customers to check the identity of anyone asking to access their homes. Official gas engineers carry identity cards and are always happy to show them when asked.
It is vital that people do not try to turn the gas back on themselves.
A limited number of heaters and hotplates are available for collection from the customer drop-in centre at the Sailors and Soldiers Club in Steeton which is open between 8am and 10pm.
Vulnerable customers are advised to contact customer services on 0191 5116940 to arrange delivery of alternative heating and cooking facilities if they have any issues.
We are also advising customers to stagger their use of electrical appliances wherever possible to help prevent overloading the local electicity supply network with the extra demand.
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and reassure customers that teams of engineers are on site assessing the situation and working hard to get things back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.
Welfare facilities:
We have set up a service to offer soup, sandwiches and hot drinks at Keighley Leisure Centre. This service will run until 10pm tonight and begin again at 8am tomorrow. A free bus will leave Airedale Hospital and the bus stop at Mill Lane every 30 minutes, on the hour and the half hour.
Contacting us:
We have also set-up a customer drop-in centre at the Sailors and Soldiers Club on The Ash, High Street in Steeton, alternatively customers can call our customer service team on 0191 5116940. Calls will be answered any time day or night while this incident continues.
Compensation:
This will be paid automatically to customers via their gas supplier if the supply is interrupted for more than 24 hours. The rate is nationally agreed and set at £30 for every 24-hour period without gas.
Smell of gas:
Anyone who smells gas should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 immediately, your call will be answered at any time of day or night and an engineer will be sent out to assess the situation promptly.
Update 2 - Tuesday 3rd January, 2012 at 17:44
Engineers are working hard to restore gas supplies to around 1,500 customers in Steeton near Keighley, West Yorkshire.
Gas supplies to the village were cut-off after gas equipment housed inside a kiosk was damaged in high winds.
Repairs have been carried out to the gas governor and engineers are now busy visiting every affected property.
Our engineers need to visit all affected properties twice. They are currently in the process of turning off the gas supply at each affected property. Once this has been completed, they will re-visit each affected property to safely restore the gas supply. This process takes some time but it is essential to ensure we can restore supplies safely.
It is vital that people do not try to turn the gas back on themselves.
We would like to remind customers to check the identity of anyone asking to access their homes. Official gas engineers carry identity cards and are always happy to show them when asked.
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and reassure customers that teams of engineers are on site assessing the situation and working hard to get things back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.
Welfare facilities:
We have set up a service to offer soup, sandwiches and hot drinks at Keighley Leisure Centre. This service will run until 10pm tonight and begin again at 8am tomorrow. A free bus will leave Airedale Hospital and the bus stop at Mill Lane every 30 minutes, on the hour and the half hour.
Contacting us:
We have also set-up a customer drop-in centre at the Sailors and Soldiers Club on The Ash, High Street in Steeton, alternatively customers can call our customer service team on 0191 5116940. Calls will be answered any time day or night while this incident continues.
Compensation:
This will be paid automatically to customers via their gas supplier if the supply is interrupted for more than 24 hours. The rate is nationally agreed and set at £30 for every 24-hour period without gas.
Smell of gas:
Anyone who smells gas should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 immediately, your call will be answered at any time of day or night and an engineer will be sent out to assess the situation promptly.
Update 1 - Tuesday 3rd January, 2012 at 11:44
Steeton - loss of gas incident
Gas supplies to around 1,500 customers in Steeton near Keighley, West Yorkshire have been cut-off after gas equipment housed inside a kiosk was damaged in high winds.
The roof of the small structure on Thornhill Road came off and damaged the gas governor inside. To stop gas escaping the system shut down automatically. The governor is vital to the safe supply of gas to around 1,500 homes and will need to be repaired before the gas can be restored.
We would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused and reassure customers that teams of engineers are on site assessing the situation and working hard to get things back to normal as quickly and safely as possible.
Getting your gas back on
Once a repair is complete, engineers will need to visit all affected properties twice, to turn the gas off and then to carry out important safety checks before individual gas supplies can be restored. This process takes some time but is essential, it is vital that people do not try to turn the gas back on themselves.
Customer drop-in centre
We have set-up a customer drop in centre at the Sailors and Soldiers Club on The Ash, High Street in Steeton.
Compensation
This will be paid automatically to customers via their gas supplier if the supply is interrupted for more than 24 hours. The rate is nationally agreed and set at £30 for every 24-hour period without gas.
Contacting us
If you have a question about this incident and wish to speak to the customer service team they can be contacted on 0191 5116940. Calls will be answered any time day or night while this incident continues.
Smell of gas
Anyone who smells gas should call the National Gas Emergency Service on 0800 111 999 immediately, your call will be answered at any time of day or night and an engineer will be sent out to assess the situation promptly.
Protecting yourself from bogus callers
All customers are advised to check the identity of anyone asking to access their homes. Official gas engineers carry identity cards and are always happy to show them when asked.
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