NEWPORT — Cinergy crews still had not visited about 150 vacant structures Fridayas they worked to restore gas service in the city, and one official said a sudden cold snap could result in frozen meters and gas lines at those locations.

        As of late Friday, 3,050 service lines had been cleared, according to Cinergy spokesman Dave Woodburn.

        “We still have not had access to another 230 residences and buildings because no one was there when our crews tried to gain entrance,” Mr. Woodburn said. “Our call center will start calling those locations at 7 a.m. (today).”

        He said about 270 gas service lines were being worked by crews Friday, but he could not say exactly how many of those were restored.

        “If someone calls us and they are going to be home, we should be able to get to them by Sunday,” Mr. Woodburn said. “The longer this takes, the more problems can occur. There are 150 vacant structures with gas service that we have not inspected, and those locations are our lowest priority as we try to restore gas service to residents and businesses. But if we would have a freak freeze that lasted for a couple of days, it might freeze water in those meters and lines.”

        He said work crews are finding less water in the services they are working on now than those they worked earlier in the week. Private contractors from outside the Greater Cincinnati area returned home to cities such as Indianapolis, Dayton and Louisville on Friday, but about 60 local contractors remained on the job through the weekend.

        Cinergy crews will continue to work 16-hour shifts through the weekend, but will return to a regular eight-hour shift Monday.

        City Manager Phil Ciafardini said Friday that the city had received about 170 claims so far for appliances damaged by water carried in by the gas lines.

        “We had five crews, consisting of a firefighter and a private contractor, visiting those residents Friday, and we'll have crews out again (today),” he said. “By Monday,we will have assessed all the claims and hopefully will begin repairs on the appliances.”

        Mr. Woodburn said Cinergy records indicate that there are some 38 miles of gas service lines in the city of Newport, but company officials did not know how much of that total was affected by water.

        About 3,700 structures were left without gas Oct. 5 after an 8-inch water main ruptured under the Newport Shopping Center parking lot, damaging an 8-inch gas main and pumping water and sediment into gas lines through much of the city.

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