Mons, Belgium – Approximately 12,000 households in Mons, Belgium are facing a prolonged disruption of gas service, potentially lasting until Sunday, following a “major” outage that began Wednesday afternoon. The affected areas include the city center, Nimy, the Digue de Cuesmes, the Jonquois district and parts of Hyon. Hospitals in the region are reportedly unaffected due to specialized technical provisions.
Residents began reporting the loss of heating and hot water Wednesday evening, with frustration mounting as attempts to contact ORES, the network manager, proved difficult. “I called ORES for interminable minutes, no response. It’s shameful. We are left without heating, it wasn’t less than 12 degrees in the house last night,” said one resident, Adrien, according to reports. Another resident, Alain, learned of the widespread nature of the problem through social media and the BE-Alert application.
The City of Mons confirmed the severity of the situation late Wednesday night, stating that several distribution stations had automatically shut down for an as-yet-undetermined technical reason, causing an immediate drop in pressure. ORES has mobilized teams from across Wallonia to address the issue.
Beginning at 8:00 AM local time Thursday, technicians will begin a door-to-door operation to manually close each gas meter. The City of Mons is urging residents to remain at home during this process, as a resident’s presence is required to allow access to the meters. Repasses will be conducted, but authorities emphasize the importance of someone being home to grant access. Residents are also instructed not to attempt to manipulate their meters or installations themselves.
Technicians will be identifiable by their uniforms and badges, and may be accompanied by a municipal agent. Residents are advised to ensure all appliances, including boilers and stoves, are switched off before the technicians arrive.
The City of Mons is also warning residents about potential electrical “blackouts.” With gas service interrupted, there is concern that increased use of electric heaters could overload the local power grid. Residents are urged to avoid simultaneously using multiple energy-intensive appliances to prevent further disruptions.
The cause of the initial gas outage remains under investigation. The long-term implications and potential for compensation for affected residents are yet to be determined, but are likely to be discussed as the immediate crisis subsides. “What happens in these cases… an indemnity?” questioned Adrien, reflecting the concerns of many residents facing a potentially frigid weekend.
