National Grid gas outage stretches into day 3

We’re now in day three of the National Grid gas outage in Newport County, where thousands are still without heat as workers go door to door to tackle low gas pressure.

Most of Middletown had gas service back by Wednesday evening, though it’s a long process for thousands of others still left waiting.

Gov. Gina Raimondo told the public that FEMA arrived earlier today to help coordinate the response during this ongoing state of emergency.

She’s taken executive action so people out of a job due to the gas being off can seek unemployment immediately.

The gas went out in much of Newport County after the gas mains reached dangerously low pressures Monday.

However, there’s relief in sight for Middletown customers, where the gas system is back to full pressure for the 340 National Grid customers there.

Crews went door-to-door Tuesday night to turn the gas meters safely back on.

“We were able to re-pressurize that part of the system. And now we’ve been working hard to re-light those customers,” said Terry Sobolewski, with National Grid.

Meanwhile, work in Newport is wrapping up phase one.

So far, crews have turned off the meters at 6,000 homes and businesses.

There’s only about 400 left to go.

They need to turn all of the meters off before re-pressurizing the gas main and turning everyone back on.

“That’s a key part of this process,” Sobolewski said.

We’re told the gas problems stemmed from a frozen valve at the transmissions site in Massachusetts run by Algonquin Gas.

They released a statement saying pipeline capacity is an ongoing concern in New England, particularly in the severe cold.

The governor said once everyone’s gas is back up and running, the Department of Utilities will investigate. 

“We will get to the bottom of this to figure out who’s responsibility it is and we will hold the parties accountable to do that,” Raimondo said.

Meanwhile, National Grid has received reports of people trying to get their gas up and running on their own. 

They’re warning people this isn’t just illegal, it’s dangerous, and potentially explosive.

For anyone with questions, including, housing, food, restorations and vouchers head to National Grid’s website.