Approximately 400 Unitil natural gas customers in the Dover area are currently without service following a break in the line in the vicinity of Hawthorne Avenue caused by a contractor earlier today. The break occurred at approximately 8:15 a.m. this morning. Gas service has since been shut off to the area in order to make the area safe for repairs.
Restoration to the impacted customers will involve the following steps:
- Unitil technicians will go door to door to make sure all affected meters are turned off.
- All needed repairs will be made.
- Each meter is then turned back on manually to assure the safety of the customer.
Gas service is expected to be restored by the end of day today. A list of impacted streets is available through Unitil customer service for customers to see if their service was impacted.
“Additional gas service technicians have been brought in from our operations in Maine in order to assist with the restoration process,” Unitil Media Relations Manager Alec O’Meara said. “Safety is our top priority, and we will work quickly and efficiently to restore service to our customers.”
Natural gas leaks are usually recognized by smell, sight or sound. DO NOT use a lighter, use telephones, switch on/off appliances, light fixtures or even a flashlight in any area where you smell gas. These items can produce sparks that might ignite the gas and cause an explosion. AGAIN, If you suspect a natural gas leak, immediately move to a safe environment and call 911 or Unitil at its gas leak numbers in Massachusetts (888-301-7700), New Hampshire (866-900-4115) or Maine (866-900-4460).
Unitil will provide regular updates to local media outlets regarding restoration progress.
