I am one of those Evanston residents who did not have heat for four days last week.
I would like to revisit the issue as reported by Lisa Black in “Hundreds lack heat for 4th day; Evanston residents cold, frustrated” (Metro, Jan. 14).
Our experience, while chilling, was not quite as described in your paper.
I would like to offer a huge, public thank you to the company that saved us from disaster.
The Nicor Gas employees we spoke with, from the first frustrating calls on Jan. 10 to the crew who worked in one of several holes they dug in front of our house until 1 in the morning on Tuesday as they cleared ice from the line, were the kind of people I’d want for neighbors. They were polite and informed, proactive and professional.
Most were working in ridiculous conditions.
The temperature outside was well below freezing; they’d been pulled from their normal territories outside Chicago and had been working back-to-back shifts for four days.
In our case, even conditions inside the house were inhospitable–they had to navigate a maze of displaced storage just to reach the pilot lights and meter.
They did whatever it took to return gas service to homes affected by the water pipe break. They brought us space heaters. They offered us a warm place to stay. They answered phones 24 hours a day and left clear and accurate updates of their progress online and on the public access television cable channel.
They sent someone to the house every time we called.
Even when I lost my composure, Nicor employees who came to our door maintained a sense of humor without losing their professionalism. They should be applauded.
What happened was unfortunate and problematic, but Nicor rose to the occasion with unusual generosity and authority.
