All but 25 customers had normal service by noon Wednesday. The remaining 25 without service were unavailable when NIPSCO service technicians arrived to inspect their residences during restoration. Those customers should call NIPSCO at 1-800-4-NIPSCO (1-800-464-7726) to have their service restored.

We continue to be concerned for the well being of the Gott/Wachter family as well as all of the customers who were impacted by this incident.

While the Company is continuing to investigate the incident, what we do know to date is that a natural gas pressure-regulating device located in a primary feed station north of town did not function properly. This station is one of two supplying gas to individual homes and businesses in the Wheatfield area. The Company is continuing its investigation to determine the actual sequence of events and their impact on the system. The north station remains out of service.

A review of emergency call records indicates the Company received its first report of a possible gas leak in Wheatfield at about 6 a.m. Tuesday. In accordance with normal response procedures for such reports, which are given highest priority, a service technician was dispatched to the area immediately.

The Company will provide further information when the investigation is completed next week.

Customers are reminded that whenever they smell natural gas or suspect a gas leak to take the following precautions:

1. Do not light a match, turn electrical switches on or off, or use a telephone nearby.
2. If the suspected leak is inside a building, open all doors and windows.
3. Leave the building, or the area of the leak if you are outside, immediately.
4. Go to a telephone away from the leak and call NIPSCO’s gas leak emergency hotline at 1-800-634-3524.

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