About 500 Columbia Gas customers — so far — waiting to be compensated after last week’s Lawrence gas leak
A spokesperson declined to say how long it could take to compensate the residents.
Columbia Gas is working to compensate customers for losses related to last week’s gas leak in Lawrence, which forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes in the middle of the night.
Company spokesperson Scott Ferson said Tuesday afternoon that about 500 claims had been filed so far. Some people have been given gift cards to compensate for immediate needs such as spoiled food, but it’s unclear how long others will have to wait.
Claims could include property damage from firefighters entering homes or businesses if no one was home, wage loss for those who couldn’t go to work, inventory loss for business owners, and more.
The Friday leak came almost exactly a year after the Merrimack Valley gas explosions rocked the nearly same area, and Columbia Gas was found responsible for that disaster.
Ferson said 98 percent of customers affected by last year’s explosions have been reimbursed. He said there is no average time a claim could take to process and declined to give a range.
A preliminary investigation over the weekend indicated the more recent leak was caused by a mistake by city contractors, but the affected valve — controlled by Columbia Gas — should have been disabled last year.
Though most residents were allowed to return to their homes around 3 p.m. Friday, about 12 hours after being evacuated, some weren’t so lucky and spent one or more nights in hotels.
Lawrence resident Joe DiStefano told WCVB-5 his family spent four days in a hotel and spent between $700 and $800 for lodging and food.
After waiting in line at one claims location, DiStefano told the station he was sent to a second location and was then told someone would be in touch within 72 hours.
Customers can call or go to a physical location to file or check on claims, according to Columbia Gas’s website. If you call, it could take up to three days for an adjuster to follow up and begin the process. If you go to the claims office at 439 South Union St., you’ll meet one-on-one with an adjuster.
The company’s claims center in Lawrence will be open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. this Tuesday through Saturday. Regular hours — 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Saturday — will resume next Monday, Oct. 7.
