Description

PSEG has been upgrading gas lines in our neighborhood for several weeks now. On Monday afternoon I left for a business trip and returned Wednesday at about 6:30pm to discover that PSEG had shut off gas to my house in connection with this upgrade work. There was a letter giving notice that this would happen at 8am on 1/15. The letter was left sometime after I departed late afternoon on Monday 1/13 (so less than 48 hours notice). When I returned on Wed a sticker was attached to my door indicating that gas had been shut off and that I'd need to call to have it turned back on (see photo). I called immediately and was told someone could be dispatched to turn on the gas the next morning between 9am-12pm. I stayed home from work to accommodate this but no one showed up. I had to call again to get them to come out. Meanwhile, I have no heat, no hot water and no ability to cook. I have pets who were in the house during my absence with no heat. I realize this practice is PSEG's and not the city of Jersey City's. But I think the city should require PSEG and similar businesses to provide more notice of activities like this so that residents are empowered to prepare. It is unacceptable to be deprived of basic services without notice and in such a manner that risks the well being of residents. The representative I spoke with at PSEG did not understand my concern, saying that when gas services are cut off in connection with these sorts of activities, they are typically immediately turned back on as long as the resident is home to accommodate that. But how many of you would expect to be home during business hours if only informed of the need < 48 hours prior? I'm confident I was not the only resident negatively impacted by this action and ask the city to intervene with PSEG to prevent this practice from continuing.