What' are the Gas co Hotwater tank contract responsiblities?

Most people have rental HW tank in their homes, fr Gas Co. and rarely do they read carefully what are the responsiblities of the Gas Co. for this single item when it comes to services and repairs. is it right. I have a rental one at home, recently the thing overflow and all hot water, steamy hot water ran down the drain through the overflow pipe by the side of tank, flooding the basement in the process. When I called and ask them to fix the problem, the service depat gave me a good run around. Without looking at the job, they simply replied over the phone, there were water leaking in the valves there, its a plumbing problem, nothing to do with the hotwater tank. Did you see water gushing out from that valve xx; that valve yyy and that one over there valve zzz, we do not do plumbing work. I said to them where were the valves you were talking about. Then they said you did not understand English. How much English do one has to understand to know the tank was overflowing and flooding the basment. I therefore got no help or service from them. The steamy hotwater wetted the foot of drywall and wood near the hottank, mold started to form. One contractor told me the damage cost roughly now $500.00. Is it correct to think this is certainly a rental tank Co. problem to fix it for customers??? Since I was getting nowhere, I am preparing to get to a claim lawyer to suit for damage to my basment. Anyone has any bright idea. Summer months are ok, I can get by with less hotwater. Because hotwater did not get up to the bathroom on 2nd floor if I turn off the valve immediately next to the overflow. Now I pulledl the plug from the elec power outlet. The tank is dead just sitting there. Cold weather is coming we might need hotwater for everything to run our daily routines. I am planning to write to the Gas Co. to get rid of the defective tank completely. Thinking why would I stilll paying for the monthly rental fee when this thing just not giving out the service??? I am a small home owner, they are the big utility Company, how can they do things like this to their customers???? only in North America or Canada, I wonder. or Is it just happen in the MOVIes.