TOLEDO, Ohio — Toledo homeowner John Insco has waited three months for Columbia Gas to extend a main line to bring natural gas service to his home, according to 13 Action News.

Insco has used geothermal heating and electric appliances for the past 15 years. When he saw a neighbor switch to natural gas, he expected the process to be quick.

“I just assumed that since all the infrastructure was still intact, that a simple phone call to Columbia Gas, it wouldn’t take maybe a month or two before they could just simply just turn it on,” Insco told 13 Action News.

Insco made that phone call in April. He said that by mid-summer, when Columbia Gas went to turn on the lines, no gas came through.

Before that, Insco and his wife had bought appliances for the home in anticipation of gas service. “The $3,000 new gas water heater still sitting there. The gas stove, which was propane, that was another $1,000. And I have a fireplace tore up that I want to convert from propane to gas. But unfortunately, I’m still waiting,” Insco said.

Insco said he has not heard from Columbia Gas since then. He filed a complaint with the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO).

“PUCO’s answer to me was always, they’re working on it. I call ten days later, they’re working on it. I call ten days later, they’re working on it. That’s where the frustration sets in,” Insco said.

PUCO provided a statement to 13 Action News: “PUCO investigators have reached out to the company and were informed that Columbia Gas is working toward providing service to Mr. Insco. Prior to providing service, Columbia had to confirm that there was no stray gas in the area of the residence. The test was completed and Columbia is now extending a main line to provide him with natural gas service.”

Columbia Gas declined to comment, saying it cannot comment on pending litigation or ongoing regulatory proceedings. Insco said that may be because of his filing in small claims court.

“The small claims court filing was over the new appliances that I got, with the anticipation and the decision that it was going to be intact three months ago. In other words, everything would be there. So, I timed the appliance deliveries for when the gas was supposed to be turned on,” Insco said.

The article did not report a cost estimate from Columbia Gas for the main-line extension itself. The figures Insco cited were the cost of his own appliances.

Under Ohio Admin. Code 4901:1-13-05, a utility is required to contact a main-line-extension customer within 30 days with a cost estimate and completion date. Columbia Gas of Ohio’s own guidance says main-line extensions can take about six months for planning and construction, so a three-month wait alone is not necessarily a violation. The specifics in Insco’s case — including how and when the company communicated with him — are what matter.

Insco said he was last informed that work should start in the next two to three weeks, with gas being turned on by mid-December. He hopes that happens.

With winter heating season starting, Insco is still waiting for the work to begin.

Photo: RadRafe, via Wikimedia Commons (public domain)

Source: 13 Action News — Toledo homeowner still waiting Columbia Gas to extend main line after three months