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Gas company: Technicians continue to work to restore service to remaining Donora customers

DONORA, Pa. — 9 A.M. MONDAY UPDATE: Columbia Gas has restored natural gas service to more than 85 percent of the 1,700 affected customers in Donora, the company said.  An update posted to the utility company's website at 8:30 a.m. said technicians are reaching out to the remaining customers to restore service.

6:45 A.M. MONDAY UPDATE: The latest update on Columbia Gas' website indicates service has been restored to more than 40 percent of the 1,700 affected customers. The update posted 8 p.m. Sunday says every affected home or business needs to be entered to restore service, so an adult must be present.

10:57 P.M. SUNDAY UPDATE: Gas service has been restored to more than 40 percent of the affected customers, according to Columbia Gas officials.

2 P.M. SUNDAY UPDATE: Columbia Gas technicians have started restoring gas to customers.

8:40 A.M. SUNDAY UPDATE: Columbia Gas has completed the shutoff process, the company announced.

Technicians are now inspecting the system, with the relighting process expected to begin later this morning.

Full restoration of service is expected within 24 hours, the company said.

A utility company shut off gas service to nearly 2,000 Washington County customers Saturday after a contractor introduced air into the system, and it could be days before it's turned back on.

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania announced the shutoff Saturday evening, saying it was done “out of an abundance of caution” and that there was no threat to residents.

The company said 1,700 customers in the Donora area would lose service, with no timeline for restoration.

Technicians are turning off gas meters in the affected area, the company said, a process that could take until late Sunday morning.. When that's done, the company will turn gas back on and crews will go door-to-door to perform safety checks and relight gas appliances, which could take until Monday or Tuesday.

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"We expect to have all the meters shut off by late tomorrow morning, then start the restoration process, so it could take up to 48 hours for complete restoration in the area," spokesman Lee Gierczynsky said.

The company and local officials opened up several warming centers, including the Carroll Township Social Hall (130 Baird Ave., Monongahela), the Carroll Township Volunteer Fire Department (988 Route 837, Monongahela), Donora Council Chambers (603 Meldon Ave.) and the Charleroi Fire Department (328 Fallowfield Ave.).

Homes where service has not been restored are asked to keep their porch lights on, the company said.

The company will post updates on its Facebook and Twitter pages.

Cox Media Group

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