Bay State Gas Class Action Settlement

Massachusetts residents have won a class action lawsuit settlement against Bay State Gas Company, d/b/a Columbia Gas Of Massachusetts, over the company’s failure to test and inspect customer water heaters. If you were a customer of Bay State Gas Company and participated in their Water Heater Rental Program or repair service program known as “Guardian Care” within the past 10 years, you may be entitled to compensation from the class action lawsuit settlement.

The Bay State Gas Company class action lawsuit alleges that the Massachusetts gas company did not perform necessary testing and inspecting services on a water heater component known as a temperature and pressure valve (“T&P Valve”) for certain customers. According to manufacturer’s recommendations, a T&P Valve should be inspected once a year and tested once every three years. The class action lawsuit alleges Bay State was obligated to perform these services for customers who participated in the Rental Program and Guardian Care program, but failed to do so. It further alleges Bay State failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions to its Massachusetts customers concerning the need for T&P Valve testing and inspecting.

Under the T&P Valve class action settlement, Bay State customers in Massachusetts who participated in the Rental Program or the Guardian Care program on or before January 1, 2000 and October 4, 2010, are entitled to receive reimbursement for out-of-pocket expenses related to T&P Valve testing or inspecting services that were incurred on or prior to October 4, 2010. To receive reimbursement, you must submit a claim form along with adequate documentation of any such expenses, such as invoices, work orders, credit card or bank statements, etc., to the Settlement Administrator by January 17, 2011.

If you didn’t incur out-of-pocket expenses related to T&P Valve testing, you still may be able to receive compensation on a pro rata basis if any sums remain in the settlement fund after the payment of out-of-pocket expenses are distributed to class members. To receive your Pro Rata Payment under the T&P Valve settlement, you must submit an Affidavit form to the Settlement Administrator by January 17, 2011.

For more information on the Bay State Gas T&P Valve Class Action Lawsuit Settlement, including downloadable Claim and Affidavit forms, visit http://tpvalvesettlement.com.