YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Dozens of downtown residents are facing uncertainty about their heat and hot water after equipment was removed from SOBE Thermal Energy Systems.

The Wabash-owned mobile boiler, which SOBE had been using to supply steam, was repossessed after a court order. That boiler had been critical for heating and cooling 27 downtown buildings, including two apartment complexes with nearly 90 units.

The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio confirmed the removal, telling 21 News that “PUCO staff and Youngstown officials are continuing to discuss with SOBE’s receiver to ensure service can be restored as soon as possible.”

One of those residents is James Bogan, who has lived in International Towers for more than 15 years. He said the possibility of losing heat and hot water heading into colder months is unsettling.

“Well, it would be hard to deal with, you know, because the winters are cold here. I think I need the heat and also the hot water. Without the heat, I don’t exactly know how I would get along,” Bogan said.

At Wick Tower, residents reported spotty hot water service on Tuesday and were told that management was working on a solution.

City spokesman Andy Resnick said officials are relying on state regulators to minimize the disruption. “We’re pleased with the progress so far by PUCO to ensure our residents and businesses relying on SOBE will continue to have service. They are currently working to finalize the alternative with YSU, so the trailer removal will have minimal impact and PUCO will be in communication directly with all customers to provide them updates,” Resnick said in a statement.

That alternative involves Youngstown State University, which is working to redirect steam from its own boiler plant into SOBE’s downtown system. The connection has not been used in years, creating challenges for engineers trying to restart it.

John Hyden, Associate Vice President of Facilities and Support Services at YSU, said the university is attempting to backfeed steam into SOBE’s system as a temporary measure. “What we’re trying to do is back feed our boiler system into their distribution system so that the downtown customers can have a steam supply in the interim,” Hyden said.

He added that while the effort is ongoing, there is no guarantee of success.

“We tried to put steam onto the system this morning and were unable to accomplish that. We’ve got a plan with some different techniques to try to get the steam into their system. We may be able to get some of the system up fairly quickly, and we may not be able to get it up at all, but the plan is to try and do what we can.”

Hyden also stressed YSU’s role is only temporary. “We’re not a public utility, and don’t really have an interest in being a public utility. But in an emergency scenario like this, we feel that we need to do what we can to try to help out,” he said.

The city, PUCO, and SOBE’s court-appointed receiver continue working toward a longer-term solution. Until then, residents of downtown Youngstown remain in limbo as temperatures begin to drop.