Family’s delight as gas supply to be reconnected
Noeleen Floyd, her husband and three young children have been living in freezing conditions for a month since their supply was disconnected.
Noeleen’s partner Kieran Haughian had explained that the metre installed by firmus had been erected on an out house wall at their Meadowbrook home.
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Hide AdKieran an experienced joiner, decided to take down the unstable part of the wall and subsequently called firmus.
However firmus had insisted the couple pay more than £2k to have the supply reconnected, a sum the young family could not afford.
On Monday Upper Bann MLA John O’Dowd contacted the firm to see if he could help.
Mr O’ Dowd said: “After learning of the family’s plight, I contacted firmus energy directly.
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Hide Ad“The company were very helpful and following discussions it was agreed that they would forgo some charges and provide a new gas connection at the price it would originally have cost to just relocate the meter.”
Noeleen said it will now cost £623 to be reconnected and she will be able to repay the money over a year. “I would like to thank everyone who helped our family though this. Everyone has been very supportive.”
A spokesperson for firmus said: “We are delighted that John O’Dowd has worked with us and the Floyd family to reach a satisfactory conclusion. We hope to have a new gas supply in place and the family safely connected within the next few days.
“Natural gas is a very safe product however our engineers have a responsibility to take immediate action where our gas pipes have been compromised, to ensure that there is no danger to people and property alike.”