YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – Heating service from SOBE Thermal Energy Systems LLC’s mobile boiler is expected to come online at some point Wednesday, officials said.
“We’re working on it,” said Reg Martin, the court-appointed receiver who now manages all of SOBE’s affairs.
At approximately 3:45 p.m., crews were in the process of installing a pressure relief valve for the system, which was delivered to SOBE’s North Avenue plant Sunday. A valve installed earlier did not work, so a new one was needed.
Martin said that once the valve is replaced and other installation measures are finished, the boiler should restore heating service to its downtown customers hopefully between 10 and 11 p.m. Wednesday.
SOBE supplies heat, chilled water and hot water services to approximately 27 buildings and 90 residential units in the city’s central business district. These customers have been without service since Sept. 30.
Martin noted that the boiler the company is using is a temporary fix and needs to be upgraded to a larger unit to serve customers during the winter. “In about 30 days, we’ll get a bigger one,” he Martin said.
Power Mechanical Inc., based in Virginia, provided the new unit to SOBE. The company specializes in rentals of trailer-mounted boilers and has locations in Chicago, Jersey City and Ontario, Canada.
Martin was appointed receiver for the struggling district heating company Sept. 26 after the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio determined that SOBE – citing the likelihood of insolvency – could no longer provide utility services, as it is required to do by Ohio law.
In May, Wabash Power Equipment Co. filed a motion in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court requesting a judge approve the company’s repossession of a mobile boiler that SOBE was leasing to provide service to its customers. According to court filings, SOBE had failed to make lease payments on the equipment.
On Aug. 11, the court ordered that Wabash could repossess the equipment. The city was able to secure a deal with Wabash that delayed repossession of the unit until Sept. 30. The company disconnected the mobile boiler that day, leaving customers with no hot water or heat.
Last minute attempts by the PUCO to stay the repossession failed, since the unit had already been decommissioned, according to documents filed with the Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.
Pictured at top: The mobile boiler at SOBE’s North Avenue plant.