"We are going to get the electricity turned back on," Argo L. Simpkins, executive director of ABO Haven, said early Thursday.
"We are talking with the state to get some kind of documentation to take it to the electric company so we can open a new account," Simpkins said, adding that ABO Haven also plans to get gas service turned back on.
Simpkins said ABO Haven brought in a generator and have the computers, phones and cash registers in its ShopRite retail-services classes working again.
A spokeswoman for Berean Institute said the organization, which was founded in 1899 to teach carpentry, tailoring, barbering and trades to African-Americans, would have no comment on the utilities. The institute has been struggling for years and lost state funding in 2008.
ABO Haven filed a lawsuit last Friday against Berean, asking for at least $1 million in damages because it said the loss of utilities could cause ABO Haven to lose its contracts to provide "welfare-to-work" job training.
Vivienne Crawford, an attorney who represented Berean in court recently, did not return phone calls for comment.
Mark McDonald, a spokesman for Mayor Nutter, said that ABO Haven has three contracts through a city-affiliated program called Philadelphia Works, Inc., that teach courses for ShopRite in retail/customer service, certified nursing assistant and home health-care aide.
The trouble between ABO Haven and Berean came to light Aug. 24, when ABO Haven sought an injunction in Common Pleas Court because the Philadelphia Water Department turned off water to the building on Aug. 17. Water service has been restored.
PGW spokesman Barry O'Sullivan said PGW is investigating how Berean has been receiving gas without an account.
"Our first priority, obviously, is in terms of safety," O'Sullivan said. "If you go to a location where the gas has been shut off - and because there was no account there since 2009 - and we discover gas use, in almost every case, that is a very dangerous situation. The gas has been re-accessed and repiped into that location by people who are not experts."
A spokesman for PECO said it is still investigating electricity use at the building.
State Rep. Michelle Brownlee, said she is trying to help Berean's board negotiate with the state to maintain the building.
"Berean has been struggling for a very long time," Brownlee said. "They are trying to put a package together to repopulate the building."
Contact Valerie Russ at russv@phillynews.com or 215-854-5987. Follow her on Twitter @ValerieRuss DN.
