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WEBVTT EXPECTED TO GET THEIR GAS BACK UNTIL THURSDAY, DOUG? DOUG: THAT'S RIGHT, ANTOINETTE AND RANDY. GOOD MORNING, YES. GETTING GAS SERVICE BACK ONTO ITS RESIDENTS IN WOBURN ONLY PART OF THE STORY. THE OTHER PART OF THIS STORY -- THE STATE HAS ORDERED NATIONAL GRID TO STOP ALL WORK EXCEPT FOR THESE EMERGENCY REPAIRS. NOW, CREWS ARE GOING DOOR TO DOOR TO GET GAS RESTORED TO SOME 330 HOMES. THE PRESSURE ISSUE WAS CORRECTED WITHIN MINUTES. AUTHORITIES SAY THERE IS NO DANGER. BUT NOW THE STATE IS INVESTIGATING NATIONAL GRID'S MISTAKE AND ITS OVERALL SAFETY RECORD. THIS ALL STARTED WHEN A NATIONAL GRID REPLACEMENT WORKER OVERPRESSURIZED THE GAS LINE, LOCKED OUT WORKERS SHOUTING DOWN THE COMPANY'S PRESIDENT LAST NIGHT SAYING THIS MISTAKE WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED IF THEY WERE WORKING. >> BECAUSE SAFETY IS OUR TOP PRIORITY, WE RESPECT THAT. WE WILL FULLY COMPLY WITH ALL OF THEIR WISHES. HAVE COMPLETE CONFIDENCE IN THE WORKFORCE WE HAVE ON THE GROUND. AND I KNOW THAT THEY'LL GET THROUGH IT PROPERLY. DOUG: HOWEVER, THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC UTILITIES ORDERED A MORATORIUM ON ALL NONEMERGENCY AND NONCOMPLIANCE WORK AS IT INVESTIGATES SAFETY PRACTICES. AHEAD IN OUR NEXT HALF HOUR, WE'RE GOING TO HEAR FROM SOME NEIGHBORS WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS GAS SHUTDOWN.

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Hundreds of gas meters are being shut off in Woburn after an inadvertent over-pressurization of the natural gas distribution system in the area, according to National Grid. Police and National Grid reported the pressure increase in the system, but said no homes are being evacuated at this time. The utility said the delivery system to the 300 homes in the area was shut down "as a precaution." "While performing routine maintenance on a regulator station at Wyman and Hart streets in Woburn at approximately 11:30 a.m. Monday, a National Grid gas technician inadvertently introduced excess gas into a portion of our system," National Grid said in a written statement. "The crew quickly recognized the error and within minutes, reduced the system to normal operating pressures. The area is safe, and National Grid has the situation under control."National Grid said their personnel were going home-to-home to check and deactivate gas systems. In situations where residents are not home, the utility said they will make entry with police and a locksmith to ensure the systems are off and safe. "There is no apparent damage to the system, which feeds approximately 300 homes through three miles of pipe," National Grid wrote. "In addition, pressure-control devices at each property function as an extra safety measure to limit the flow of gas to safe and normal levels."At a press briefing Monday night, officials said they would begin restoring gas service to homes starting Tuesday and planned to have all homes reconnected to service by Thursday.Last week, the Department of Public Utilities said it had found 29 instances of possible gas pipeline safety violations. That includes drilling holes directly over a gas main, a manhole left open overnight and improper investigation of gas leaks.The state agency announced Monday night it was ordering National Grid to stop work on all non-essential projects across the company’s entire service territory pending the results of the state agency's review of the company's safety practices."In addition, the Department is requiring National Grid to have an inspector on location for all work that could lead to abnormal pressurization until this review is complete," the statement said.Since June, more than 1,200 gas workers have been locked out in a labor dispute with National Grid. The utility said the cause of Monday's pressure spike will be investigated, but the crews involved in the work were management employees. Dozens of homes and businesses were damaged in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover last month when gas pressure spiked in the distribution system operated by Columbia Gas spiked, causing fires and explosions. That disaster caused one death and 25 injuries.