Cowlersley couple's gas company apology for heating loss

Jan 14 2009 by Sam Casey, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Pensioners in ‘no heating’ ordeal

“They would have been better off saying they wouldn’t be back until the end of the weekend.”

The United Utilities spokeswoman said the old metal gas mains were being replaced by safer plastic ones.

She added: “To do this we have to disconnect customers’ supplies and in the vast majority of cases we do reconnect them within the day.

“United Utilities, working on behalf of Northern Gas Networks, replaces 530 kilometres of pipes a year and we always aim to reconnect our customers quickly and safely.

“United Utilities also runs Yorkshire's gas emergency service and we had an unusually high number of emergency calls on that day, which had to be prioritised.

“We would urge all elderly or vulnerable people to make sure they are registered with their gas supplier by calling the number on top of their bill.”