Ow, we got gas pains: small biz

ALBANY — Utility service delays are hurting small businesses like restaurants, bars and hotels, a Manhattan state senator says in a new report.

Democratic Sen. Brad Hoylman surveyed members of the New York Hospitality Alliance and found that 82.1% of respondents experienced some form of delay in getting gas turned on, upgraded, or adjusted.

The average wait time was 68 days, with 94% of respondents saying it caused business interruptions and 81% reporting that it led to a reduction in employee hours or layoffs. The situation, which is estimated to cost $140,000 per business, is particularly bad for new restaurants looking for gas hookups, the report says.