Second round of service restoration in Allegan County natural gas leak underway

FENNVILLE, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – It’s nearly “job done” for crews looking to restore natural gas service to around 5,200 Michigan Gas Utilities customers in the Fennville-Saugatuck-Douglas area in Allegan County who were victimized by a major gas line leak last week.

On Monday, utility staffers made a second round of visits to about 20 percent of the affected residences and businesses which were vacant during two-plus days of going door-to-door, turning on meters and reigniting appliances. Those meters and appliances had to be shut off following a breach in the area of 57th Street and 122nd Avenue that occurred on Wednesday from an unnamed “third party,” under circumstances that were not initially disclosed.

On Friday evening, workers from Michigan Gas Utilities and line operator TC Energy, augmented by crews from Wisconsin and Minnesota, started the service restoration process. By Saturday, they had visited 60 percent of the affected customers, and the remaining 40 percent were initially contacted by the end of Sunday. The utility had asked customers to have an adult on hand when workers arrived to restore service.

It is believed that those vacant properties whose service wasn’t restored were “summer homes” or “second homes.” Michigan Gas Utilities officials are asking those property owners to contact a trusted neighbor in order for their crews to have access to their property. Those workers are expected to remain in the area through the end of the week. Those with questions are asked to contact Michigan Gas (800-401-6402), and press option 0 to get an operator.

A shelter provided by Third Coast Community Church in Saugatuck, through the Allegan County Emergency Management Department, was open on Thursday evening, but closed on Friday afternoon. The Holland Aquatic Center also had its facility open during regular business hours over the weekend for those who needed showers.

An investigation into what led to the line rupture continues, and any course of legal action to recover costs of the repairs and service restoration is pending.