Evening star., 1946-04-26
PUG Promises
Public HEARINGS
On Natural Gas
Company Announces
Plans to Convert
In Suburban Areas

In Suburban Areas
The Public Utilities Commission
will hold public hearings to consider
desirability of supplying pure natur-
al gas to Washington consumers
when the matter is presented by the
Washington Gas Light Co.
This was promised today by James
H. Flanagan, commission chair
man, following the company's an
nouncement that it planned to con-
vert from the mixed natural and
manufactured product now supplied
to 100 per cent natural gas. In its
announcement the company said it
had applied to regulatory bodies in
Maryland and Virginia for permis-
sion to change over in the suburban
areas.
Mr.. Flanagan said no such appli-
cation had come before the PUG
here. When it does, he added, the
adequacy of natural gas supplies,
cost of the change-over to the COM
panN possible resultant rate of re-
dQctions for consumers and related
matters would be examined in
public hearing.
Suburban Plans Stated.
The company stated it's plans
called Tor conversion of most of the
suburban area before the start of
the 1867 heating season." with
completion of all change-overs in
Virginia and most of those in Mary
land by the end of the year. The
switch in the Capital would begin
early in 1947 and be accomplished
by fall of next year, according to
the firm
In addition to plant changes, it
was explained, the shift would en-
tail house-to-house visits to adapt
every gas stove, water heater, fur
mace and other appliance to the
burning of pure natural gas. This
work would be done by the company
without charge to the consumer.
The company said its decision to
seek the change followed series
Of studies and installation of a new
pipeline from Texas to West Vir-
ginia, which supplements reserves
in the Appalachian area, source of
natural gas for this section of the
country"
Hotter" Than Mixed Gas.
Straight natural gas is hotter"
an-the mixed product now distrib-
uted here. 1t supplies LOO Brit
ish thermal units per cubic foot, as
against 600 BTUs for the present
gas, a company spokesman said.
Because of the cost of the change
over, no immediate rate reduction
could be expected to follow the
shift, the spokesman said.
In the formal announcement
Marcy L. Sperry, president of the
company, called attention to in
creasing demand for gas here and
said:
Continuation of present produc-
tion practices would require very
large investments in our facilities. a
substantial portion of which can be
avoided by changing over to natural
gas distribution. The distribution of
straight natural gas will help to
check our increasing costs of oper-
Grafton and will place the companies
IN a position more adequately to
serve the growing needs of the
community"
The change would affect Wash
lngton and Maryland facilities of
the Washington Gas Light Co. and
Virginia services of its subsidiary,
the Rosslyn Gas Co.
Shift on Progressive Basis.
The shift would be made on
basis, with present plant
facilities being used to supply con-
sumers whose appliances had not
been changed for natural gas con-
After completion of the
conversion, the company said, a
standby" manufacturing system
with reserve storage and pumping
facilities would be maintained to
reduce peak load demands on the,
natural gas lines and to serve as
safeguard in the event of any tenn
porary curtailment in the natural
gas supply"
The company explained that the
standby" plant would manufacture
richer type of gas than hereto
fore. comparable in heating value to
natural gas and capable of being
burned in appliances adapted to
the natural product.
In 1910 the PUG conducted a
study of the comparative merits of
natural and mixed gas service for
the Capital. F. P. Fisher, the
expert who prepared the report,
concluded that the changeover
would not be warranted unless Sub
stantial" advantages to consumers
could be shown. The matter did
not proceed further, since the gas
company indicated there was some
doubt a safe margin of natural gas
supply could be assured under con-
ditions existing at that time.