Eversource Buys Columbia Gas Of MA For $1.1 Billion

ANDOVER, MA — Eversource officially bought Columbia Gas of Massachusetts for $1.1 billion, Tuesday, Eversource announced.

Regulators approved the sale last week, the company said.

The purchase was part of a federal plea deal over the role of Columbia Gas in the 2018 Merrimack Valley gas explosions. The deferred prosecution agreement required the parent company, NiSource, to sell Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and leave the state permanently.

The deal also included a $53 million fine. A separate Massachusetts settlement included a $56 million fine.

Eversource, an electricity, natural gas service and water service utility, adds about 330,000 gas customers, many of whom it already served as an electrical utility.

The Sept. 13, 2018 accident killed one, injured 22, and damaged 131 structures in Andover, Lawrence and North Andover, as well as leaving many residents unable to return to their homes for months. The National Transportation Safety Board's final report on the accident, released in 2019, found that "weak engineering management" by Columbia Gas was responsible for the deadly explosions.

Columbia Gas customers can continue to use ColumbiaGasMA.com to pay bills and check their account and call (800) 688-6160 for customer service, Eversource said. Branding will switch to Eversource but the address and phone number will remain active.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.