National Fuel customer assistance centers to close

Beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, March 17, National Fuel Gas Distribution Corp. will close its Customer Assistance Centers at 409 Main St., Buffalo; 2875 Union Road, Suite 44, Cheektowaga; and 1384 Peck Settlement Road, Jamestown, as part of its coronavirus response plan.

Dropboxes for payments will remain available at each location. Customers can visit www.nationalfuelgas.com/utility/paymentoptions.aspx for other payment options. Customer service representatives are available via phone at 1-800-365-3234, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

A press release said, “National Fuel recognizes that, during these unsettling times, there may be instances where customers find themselves facing financial difficulties. National Fuel encourages customers to contact customer service to discuss the numerous payment assistance programs that are available. Late charges for customers impacted by this pandemic will be waived.

“To safely and actively serve our customers and employees, we have taken the following additional steps:

“•Employees who are ill are required to stay home.

“•Necessary personal protection equipment is being provided to field crews to protect all parties.

“•We are limiting travel for our entire employee community.

“•Activating alternative work schedules and environments.

“As always, if you smell gas, leave fast! If a rotten-egg natural gas odor is present, leave the premises immediately and call National Fuel's emergency line, 1-800-444-3130, from a different location. If you smell gas outdoors, call National Fuel’s emergency number and provide the address nearest to the site of the odor. To learn more about natural gas safety, visit www.nationalfuelgas.com/forhome/gassafety.aspx.”

National Fuel Gas Distribution Corporation is the utility segment of National Fuel Gas Co., a diversified energy company that is engaged in a number of natural gas-related activities. The utility provides natural gas service to more than 740,000 customers in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania. For more information, visit www.nationalfuelgas.com.