DERBY — An army of Eversource workers and associated contractors will be going from house to house in east Derby and parts of Ansonia this evening shutting off gas meters in an attempt to figure out why more than 2,000 customers lost gas pressure Tuesday.
The utility company said there was no imminent threat to customers. No evacuation orders have been issued.
The work will take hours. There was no estimated time of completion as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.
The gas issue forced Ansonia Public Schools to cancel classes Wednesday.
The district sent out the following message:
Dr. Joseph DiBacco, Superintendent of Schools, said he was notified late this afternoon that the gas supply to Ansonia and Derby’s Hilltop area had been turned off by Eversource.
Therefore, the heat and hot water systems at three of Ansonia’s schools are offline.
“Our schools don’t have heat or hot water, and we would not be able to prepare meals,” he said.
All classes are cancelled for Wednesday, Dr. DiBacco said. Once he receives an update on the gas supply situation, he will provide further information.
Meanwhile, roughly 100 (COVID-19 tested) workers mobilized Tuesday afternoon in the Lowe’s parking lot off New Haven Avenue.
“They will be working to narrow down the source of the problem,” Eversource spokesman Frank Poirot. “The problem is low gas pressure. We don’t think it’s a leak at this time, but we’re still investigating. The next step of our restoration is to start turning off meters, isolate the problem, and then turn customers back on, lighting their pilot lights and things like that.”
“It’s more of a linear effort. You work yourself down the line until you get to the source of the problem. Or, if the problem is in a piece of equipment, we correct it and then get everybody back online in an orderly fashion,” he said.
The Derby Fire Department was called to a gas leak on New Haven Avenue at 9:37 a.m. Residents on social media began complaining of not having heat and not being able to use gas-fired appliances.
Earlier on Tuesday, Mitch Gross, an Eversource spokesman, called the loss of gas pressure unusual. He said it wasn’t clear if there was an equipment malfunction in the system or a blockage of some kind.
Eversource estimated between 2,200 and 2,400 customers are experiencing low-gas pressure, including the hilltop neighborhoods in Ansonia and Derby, and the New Haven Avenue commercial corridor in Derby.
In addition to Eversource crews and associated contractors, Derby firefighters are police were on scene, along with fire and police brass from Ansonia. House Minority Leader Themis Klarides, R-Derby, was also on scene.
“Portions of the gas system in Derby may have to be shut down to address an issue within the system,” Mayor Rich Dziekan’s office said in a statement. “The Derby Fire Department and Police Department are working directly with Eversource to make sure the issue is addressed as quickly as possible. If you are an Eversource gas customer, you may be contacted for them to gain access to your meter.”
Here is the phone number to call if you’re experiencing an issue with your natural gas supply: 877-944-5325
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