Cinergy has restored natural gas service to 3,000 Newport customers, while 275 customers with damaged heating equipment are still waiting for service, eight days after the biggest outage in the area's history.

        Steve Brash, Cinergy spokesman, said that “It will probably be into the weekend before we get to all of them, depending on the severity of the damage.”

        Thousands of Newport residents lost natural gas service last week when a water main break flooded a gas line.

        Mr. Brash said 140 Cinergy employees and about 100 employees of heating contractors are still in the field working to return service to customers, but that auxiliary crews from utilities in Indiana and Louisville were sent home Thursday afternoon.

        In addition to the 275 customers with damaged equipment, 525 more accounts have not been switched on because the utility company cannot get access to the buildings, Mr. Brash said. Cinergy is posting individual buildings, and about 150 of these sites appear to be vacant, Mr. Brash said.

        The accounts that are still not turned on are spread around the area.

        The city of Newport had established two hot lines for residents to call — one, which offered help with shelter and blankets, was shut down Wednesday because of a lack of calls.

        Another, for residents who face the cost of repairing damaged equipment, remains in service at (800) 558-5657.

        The city has fielded 110 claims to date for help with repair costs.

        Mr. Brash said he was not aware of any lawsuits filed against Cinergy stemming from the gas outage.

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