(Providence, RI) -- The city of Providence is freezing the issuance of permits to National Grid's natural gas division because the company is failing to repair roads where it does work. City officials disclosed last week that the policy has been in place since August, and Mayor Jorge Elorza's office says the Department of Public Works will only approve emergency work on a case-by-case basis. National Grid officials say the utility experienced some delays this year in making repairs, but that all remaining patches will be restored by the middle of next month.