Evening star., 1948-02-27
Company Asks PUG
To Ban Conversions
Ito Gas Heat in Homes

There Will be no more CONVEX
sions to gas heat in District homes
for some time, at least-if the Pub
lie Utilities Commission grants a re-
quest submitted to it late yesterday
by the Washington Gas Light Co.
To prevent taking on more Gus
toners than it can supply next win
ter. the gas company asked PUG to
order it to sell no gas to establish
ments which are heated with other
fuels as of today. The proposed
order would permit the company,
however, to heat new buildings by
gas.
A similar request was filed with
the Maryland Public Service Com
mission to cover installations in
Montgomery and Prince Georges
Counties.
The order also would prevent the
company from supplying gas to
large new buildings the heating of
which would consume gas at rate
Of more than 100000 British thermal
units an hour.
Under PUC's present regulations,
the gas company cannot turn down
persons seeking service. But Marcy
L. Sperry, president of the company,
told PUG an estimated $4,000 con-
versions would be requested during
the next year., and that this was
more than the concern could handle.
Immediate Ban Asked.
There will not be sufficient gas
available to serve adequately all of
such new installations and all exist
ing customers" Mr.. Sperry wrote in
his letter to the commission.
The utility official asked PUG to
clamp on the conversion lid "at
once" The commission scheduled a
meeting today TO consider the
re4uest.
Mr. Sperry said similar applica-
tions were being filed simultaneously
with the Maryland PUG and the
Virginia State Corporation Com
mission, applying to Washington
Gas Light subsidiaries in those
States.
The trouble, Mr.. Sperry indicated
in this letter, is not a shortage of
gas, but rather "the shortage and
high prices of certain other fuels" :"
causing householders to seek to
change to gas heat. The result is
"a load of extraordinary magni-
tude" for the company, Mr.. Sperry
said.
Trouble in Getting Pipe.
PUG Chairman James H. Flana-
gan told reporters the company's
inability to take on this load ap-
parently resulted not so much from
limitations of the gas supply as
from the trouble 1t was encounter
ing in procuring pipe for its lines.
The company did not indicate how
long the present situation is ex-
pected to continue but said 1t would
notify PUG as soon as it is able to
return to normal service operations.
The suggested commission order
would, as an exception, permit the
company to supply converted heat
ing units in medical hardship
cases."
It also would permit the company
to supply converted or large-sized
heating units which now are being
installed, or for which installation
permits already have been obtained
from the District Plumbing Inspec-
tors Office.
"This control is sought" Mr..
Sperry wrote, ito enable the COM
pany and it's subsidiaries to meet
their requirements related to normal
and expected growth with a rea-
sonable margin of safety"
Estimates Supply.
Mr.. Sperry estimated the COM
pany will be able to supply IT,
O00, 900 cubic feet Of gas on its peak
day next winter-99, 100000 cubic
feet of natural gas and the rest
This output, he said,
will enable the company to supply
an estimated $4,000 new buildings
but no conversion cases.
Unless PUG approves the limita-
tion request, Mr.. Sperry indicated,
the company may not be able to
take care of all its present customers
and those coming to it through the
normal growth of the business"
Reviewing Washington Gas Lights
rapid expansion in recent years, Mr..
5perry said that, from 1912 to 1916,
the peak day requirements averaged
about $4,000, 1000 cubic feet of gas.
Last winter, he said, the peak day
called for 10000 cubic feet.
The biggest day SO far this winter
has been January "a, when the city
burned 10000, 900 cubic feet of gas.
That, however, was day on which
the temperature averaged IL degrees
Fahrenheit. If the temperature
were to drop to an average degrees
some day this winter-the peak day
for which the system is
designed-the city would use 95,000,-
300 cubic feet of gas, Mr.. Sperry
said.