YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio – The receiver managing the affairs of SOBE Thermal Energy LLC plans to host an informational meeting next week to update downtown customers on the district steam heating company.
“It’s an important meeting,” said Reg Martin, the court-appointed receiver who is now in charge of SOBE Thermal’s operations.
Martin on Thursday sent out a letter to all of SOBE’s 28 customers, urging them to continue using the downtown heating system’s lines.
“It is critical that each of the twenty-eight customers/companies continue as customers in the system, as any disruption in our customer base would likely cause financial hardship and further interruption of service,” Martin’s letter states. “Be advised that as steam continues to be provided from our current boiler, we are also working to engage a reliable backup support system in an effort to avoid any future disruption of service.”
The meeting is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, at the YMCA’s Manchester Room. Also present at the meeting will be John Rambo, general manager of SOBE, and Jim Mullen, boiler engineer.
“We strongly recommend your attendance and that of any other business that would give consideration to being served going forward by a reliable steam heat system on a competitive pricing schedule,” the letter concludes.
SOBE’s steam heat service was disrupted for approximately an hour and a half Thursday. The disruption was caused by a glitch that triggered a temporary shutdown that required to be reset manually on the new boiler that was delivered last week.
SOBE Thermal’s boiler at its North Avenue site was repossessed Sept. 30 after the company failed to make payments per its lease agreement on the system. In August, a Mahoning County Common Pleas Court sided with Wabash Power Equipment Co. and approved its right to repossess the unit.
Martin was appointed receiver by the court Sept. 26 after the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio determined that SOBE could no longer provide services to its downtown customers.
Customers were left without steam heat for more than a week before a new boiler was secured and installed at the site.
Pictured at top: The mobile boiler that was delivered to SOBE’s North Avenue plant last week.