Peoples not joining MUD in shutting off gas service From staff and wire reports

In Omaha, crews from Metropolitan Utilities District have started shutting off natural gas service to people who are delinquent in their payments. In Lincoln, however, nobody is being shut off. "Peoples Natural Gas has no active shutoff going on in Lincoln at this point in time," Peoples customer service director Don Nordell said Tuesday.

He said the utility had a policy of not shutting off natural gas for non-payment of bills between Dec. 1 and March 1, except in such unusual circumstances as theft of service. However, employees will tag doors and ask that customers get in contact with Peoples to set up payment plans.

The Omaha utility planned to start shutting off service last week but delayed that after temperatures dropped below 20 degrees. On Monday, when temperatures climbed above 30, the shutoffs began.

MUD spokeswoman Mari Matulka said shutoff notices were sent to 751 business accounts and 5,542 homeowners. Those with the highest outstanding bills were to be the first to lose their service.

Matulka said the notices represented more than $1.25 million in overdue bills, or an average of $199 per account.

Six MUD employees were assigned to shut off service. Matulka said 79 shutoffs were made Monday, representing an average of $385 due on each account.

The shutoff workers can hit about 200 homes each day, but Matulka noted that historically those shut off are turned back on within 24 hours.

http://www.journalstar.com/nebraska?story_id=2382&date=20010214&past=

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), February 14, 2001