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By BRIAN MALINA; Times Leader Staff Writer
Friday, November 15, 1996 Page: 3A
KINGSTON — Nineteen years ago, PG Energy installed a second natural gas
line at the Price Apartments.
But company records say it was never turned on.
So, how could it heat 20 apartments at 947 W. Market St.?
That’s the question no one will answer.
On Wednesday, PG Energy accused William H. Price, owner of the three-story
building, of siphoning fuel. The company also recently contacted Kingston
police to investigate.
“It’s the company’s policy not to comment about individual customers,” said
spokeswoman Juneann Greco on Thursday.
Price could not be located for comment. Several messages were left on an
answering machine at the apartment building since Wednesday.
A search warrant affidavit dated Oct. 31 details how PG Energy found the
20-year-old mystery pipe:
Oct. 29: While responding to a complaint of a gas leak at the three-story
building, PG Energy workers found two separate gas lines.
A leak was found in the line on the south side of the structure. Installed
in 1977, the line should not have been working, according to PG Energy records
and Price in the affidavit.
Price told workers his building used electric heat, not natural gas.
Workers say Price is wrong. They spotted a line on the north side of the
building with a gas meter. Also, they could hear gas going through the leaking
line on the structure’s south side.
On Oct. 31: After obtaining a search warrant, Kingston Detective John Jorda
searched the building. He seized a Singer American Meter Division gas meter.
All natural gas service to the building was shut off, leaving the tenants
without heat.
Jorda could not be reached for comment Thursday.
On Wednesday afternoon, PG Energy turned the heat back on. But the company
said it planned to pursue action against the owner.
Greco said Wednesday the company shut off service after the inspection
because of numerous safety concerns over the leaky pipe. Heat was restored
after the violations were corrected and inspected.
Three apartment residents, who asked not to be identified, said they were
without heat for at least a week. When they asked Price what happened to the
heat, he said nothing of the gas leak, they said.
Rather, he told them the gas company was putting in a new meter.