Town of Andover Provides Update on Restoration Process Following Gas Emergency

ANDOVER — The Town of Andover continuously seeks to provide residents and business owners with key updates regarding the ongoing recovery and restoration efforts following the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency.

Restoration Update

A total of 32 Andover homes remain without gas service at this time, down from 48 on Wednesday, with approximately 92 total residential customers remaining without gas in Andover, North Andover and Lawrence. Of the Andover homes without service, all are completing the self-mitigation process.

Columbia Gas releases a daily briefing with updates on the progress of the restoration effort. Click here to read the briefing for Dec. 17.

Shop Locally and Win This Weekend

Town Manager Andrew Flanagan is pleased to announce that residents who shop and dine at local businesses will have the opportunity to enter a raffle and win a series of prizes.

From Thursday, Dec. 20 through Saturday, Dec. 22, residents will have an opportunity to win either a $500 gift card, $1,000 gift card or a grand prize of a $2,500 gift card.

Spend $50 to earn one raffle entry
Spend $51 to $100 to earn two entries
Spend $101 to $200 to earn three entries
Spend $201 to $300 to earn four entries
Spend $301 or more to earn five entries

To enter, residents should submit their receipts and an entry form in the submission boxes inside Old Town Hall between 4-7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. on Saturday and between 10 a.m. and noon on Sunday.

Receipts must be from an Andover business, excluding chain restaurants and grocery stores. The winner will be drawn on Sunday, Dec. 23 at 3 p.m.

Property Replacement and Claims

Hot water heaters, stoves and dryers will be replaced and boilers and furnaces will be safely repaired or replaced with those being repaired eventually being replaced beginning in the spring.

Columbia Gas has received nearly 5,000 claims from Andover residents and business owners and has paid out over $22.4 million to Andover gas customers so far.

If any resident or business owner in the affected area experiences frozen pipes, they are urged to call the Columbia Gas emergency hotline at 800-525-8222.

Free Parking Downtown

The Town of Andover will not collect parking fees at municipal parking lots through Dec. 30. The Town encourages downtown visitors to park in the municipal parking lots. This includes Lot 1 (between Andover Village Square and Caffé Nero), Lot 2 (behind Old Town Hall) and Lot 3 (Park Street Village).

Appliance Disposal

The disposal of condemned or replaced appliances is part of the recovery and restoration process. Your appliances will be removed and picked up by Columbia Gas or its contractors. Residents and business owners should not endure any cost for disposing of appliances.

Information for Landlords and Tenants

Attorney General Maura Healey’s office has released information for landlords and tenants affected by the Merrimack Valley Gas Emergency, which can be viewed in full here.

Alternative Housing

Andover residents still have the option to seek free alternative housing while their gas service remains offline. Housing options include apartments, hotels and temporary trailers, and are completely paid for by Columbia Gas.

As of Sunday, 11 Andover families remain lodged in alternate housing arrangements, including apartments and hotels. That number is down from 15 on Wednesday. As customers’ service is restored, Columbia Gas is demobilizing trailer parks and other alternate housing arrangements.

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