SAN FERNANDO : Gas Co. Has Opened New Payment Center

Southern California Gas Co. officials have a message for customers who have wondered where to pay their bills since the Northridge earthquake destroyed the San Fernando payment center.

Look around.

The new payment center opened three weeks ago directly across the street from 317 S. Brand, the former payment center that was demolished after the temblor.

“The new payment center has been very slow,” said Cathy Maguire, district manager for the Gas Co. “We’ve been trying to get the word out. They just haven’t realized that we are across the street.”

Customers had been using the GTE payment center next door to make payments in a drop box after the quake, Maguire said.

The old location was the only gas company payment center closed by the quake, said Maguire. It had taken in between 3,000 and 5,000 payments per month, making it one of the busiest centers in the region, Maguire said.

The only other payment center in the San Fernando area is in Van Nuys. Both centers serve the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

Situated on the ground floor of the Gage Wilson Real Estate building, the new payment center offers the same services the old center did.

“They can pay bills, inquire about bills, get service requests for turning gas on or turning it off,” Maguire said.

The new office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays. There is also a night deposit box.