Columbia Gas of Massachusetts: Difference between revisions
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James90064 (talk | contribs) Adding information regarding the Eversource acquisition in 2020. Updated the external link to show Columbia Gas website right before the acquisition. |
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'''Columbia Gas of Massachusetts''', |
'''Columbia Gas of Massachusetts''', the assumed name of '''Bay State Gas Company''', was a supplier of retail [[natural gas]] to over 300,000 customers in parts of [[Massachusetts]] surrounding [[Springfield, Massachusetts|Springfield]], [[Brockton, Massachusetts|Brockton]], and [[Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence]]. It was a subsidiary of [[NiSource]]. The company's operations in [[New Hampshire]] and [[Maine]] were sold to [[Unitil Corporation]] in 2008. |
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The company received attention after the [[Merrimack Valley gas explosions]] in September 2018. In February 2020, it was announced that energy company [[Eversource Energy|Eversource]] would acquire the Massachusetts gas assets of Columbia Gas for $1.1 billion.<ref>{{cite web | title=Eversource To Purchase Columbia Gas Assets In Mass. For $1.1B | website=CBS Boston | date=26 February 2020 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/eversource-purchases-columbia-gas-assets-merrimack-valley-explosions/ | ref={{sfnref | CBS Boston | 2020}} | access-date=27 July 2024}}</ref> Columbia Gas was also ordered to pay a $53 million fine for violating the Pipeline Safety Act.<ref>{{cite web | title=Columbia Gas Will Pay $53M Fine For Merrimack Valley Explosions | website=CBS Boston | date=26 February 2020 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/merrimack-valley-explosions-columbia-gas-charges/ | ref={{sfnref | CBS Boston | 2020}} | access-date=27 July 2024}}</ref> The acquisition by Eversource was completed in October 2020, effectively ending Columbia Gas operations in Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite web | title=Eversource Officially Acquires Columbia Gas As Result Of 2018 Explosions | website=CBS Boston | date=13 October 2020 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/eversource-columbia-gas-massachusetts-merrimack-valley-explosions/ | ref={{sfnref | CBS Boston | 2020}} | access-date=27 July 2024}}</ref> |
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On September 13, 2018, they set a large part of their service area on fire in Lawrence, Andover and North Andover. glockenspiel |
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==2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions== |
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{{Main article|Merrimack Valley gas explosions}} |
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On September 13, 2018, starting at approximately 4:20 PM, three [[Merrimack Valley]] communities supplied by Columbia—[[Lawrence, Massachusetts|Lawrence]], [[Andover, Massachusetts|Andover]], and [[North Andover, Massachusetts]]—[[Massachusetts gas explosions|suffered numerous fires and explosions]] as a result of an over-pressurized subterranean gas line.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.wcvb.com/article/lawrence-massachusetts-multiple-fires-gas-pressurization/23120524|title=18-year-old man killed by falling chimney from exploding house in Lawrence|date=14 September 2018|website=WCVB}}</ref> Massachusetts authorities evacuated the communities and the [[American Red Cross]] deployed and set up numerous shelters in nearby communities for those who were displaced by the explosions and subsequent fires. On September 14, [[Governor of Massachusetts]] [[Charlie Baker]] declared a [[state of emergency]], and issued a decree appointing [[Eversource Energy|Eversource]] to evaluate and oversee the management of the gas distribution system in the affected area. |
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{{refimprove|section|date=September 2018}} |
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The company remained without response for almost an entire day following the incidents in Lawrence, North Andover, and Andover. The CEO was criticized by the governor, as well as several town and city leaders. |
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==See also== |
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*[[NiSource]] |
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*[[Merrimack Valley gas explosions]] |
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==References== |
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<references/> |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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*[https://www.columbiagasma.com/ Columbia Gas of Massachusetts homepage] |
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20200829000702/https://www.columbiagasma.com/ Columbia Gas of Massachusetts homepage] - last archive of homepage before Eversource acquisition. |
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[[Category:Natural gas companies of the United States]] |
[[Category:Natural gas companies of the United States]] |
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Latest revision as of 20:09, 27 July 2024
Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, the assumed name of Bay State Gas Company, was a supplier of retail natural gas to over 300,000 customers in parts of Massachusetts surrounding Springfield, Brockton, and Lawrence. It was a subsidiary of NiSource. The company's operations in New Hampshire and Maine were sold to Unitil Corporation in 2008.
The company received attention after the Merrimack Valley gas explosions in September 2018. In February 2020, it was announced that energy company Eversource would acquire the Massachusetts gas assets of Columbia Gas for $1.1 billion.[1] Columbia Gas was also ordered to pay a $53 million fine for violating the Pipeline Safety Act.[2] The acquisition by Eversource was completed in October 2020, effectively ending Columbia Gas operations in Massachusetts.[3]
2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions
[edit]On September 13, 2018, starting at approximately 4:20 PM, three Merrimack Valley communities supplied by Columbia—Lawrence, Andover, and North Andover, Massachusetts—suffered numerous fires and explosions as a result of an over-pressurized subterranean gas line.[4] Massachusetts authorities evacuated the communities and the American Red Cross deployed and set up numerous shelters in nearby communities for those who were displaced by the explosions and subsequent fires. On September 14, Governor of Massachusetts Charlie Baker declared a state of emergency, and issued a decree appointing Eversource to evaluate and oversee the management of the gas distribution system in the affected area.
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (September 2018) |
The company remained without response for almost an entire day following the incidents in Lawrence, North Andover, and Andover. The CEO was criticized by the governor, as well as several town and city leaders.
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Eversource To Purchase Columbia Gas Assets In Mass. For $1.1B". CBS Boston. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Columbia Gas Will Pay $53M Fine For Merrimack Valley Explosions". CBS Boston. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "Eversource Officially Acquires Columbia Gas As Result Of 2018 Explosions". CBS Boston. 13 October 2020. Retrieved 27 July 2024.
- ^ "18-year-old man killed by falling chimney from exploding house in Lawrence". WCVB. 14 September 2018.
External links
[edit]- Columbia Gas of Massachusetts homepage - last archive of homepage before Eversource acquisition.
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