Evening star., 1951-07-08
Expansion Curbs
Backed byD.C.
Gas Supp|ier
Columbia System
Fears Big Deficit
At February Peak

The main wholesale Supplier OF
natural gas for this area yesterday
supported Federal plans to shut
off additional gas consumption in
critical areas.
Dale Parker, secretary Of the
vast Columbia Gas System, Inc,
said his firm has estimated that
on the day of peak demand next
winter, it will face deficit Of
about 800 million cubic feet Of
gas, during an estimated peak
requirement of 2.5 billion feet for
that day.
There seems to be every reason
to believe that estimate will be
improved upon" he told The Star
by telephone from New York.
Nevertheless, he added, he would
welcome adoption of the proposed
Petroleum Administration for De-
fense PAD) order. which, after a
certain date, would halt supplies
to any new space-heating GUS
toners and require Federal ap-
proval of any new large-volume
users.
Mr.. Parker stressed that the an
Iticipated deficit gives home owners
who currently use gas little to
fear in the way of fuel shortage
next winter, although he con-
ceded cutbacks might become
necessary in industrial uses.
New Services Possible.
Factors that the system hopes
will cut the deficit, he said, include
increased summertime storage fa-
cilities, more gas drilling in East
ern States and the possibility of
expanding pipelines to carry main
supplies from Gulf States.
The Columbia system, which
WHOLESALERS the fuel to the WASH
ington Gas Light Co., already has
filed petitions to halt sales for new
gas heating equipment in the Dis
trict and suburban Maryland and
Virginia. However, these moves
would become meaningless if the
Government goes through with its
general freeze order.
Columbia and other industry
officials will meet tomorrow with
the PAD to discuss the proposed
gas control. Another discussion
session will be held July %, push
ling up to early August the most
likely date for issuance of some
Federal order. -
c. P. Rather. PAD deputy adj
ministrator for gas, would not dis
cuss gas supply figures which led
to the proposed order. He said
they constantly are changing and
might not reflect the up-to-dats
picture in any specific area. How
ever, the Appalachian area
highly populated and far from gas
sources---will be one of the hardest
hit. he reported. The Columbia
system supplies gas for about
2.5 million consumers in this area,
Mr.. Parker SAID.
II Steel ALLEGATIONS Blamed.
The PAD puts main blame for
the threatened shortage on in
adequate steel allocations for
pipelines necessary to carry gas.
Third quarter 1851 ALLEGATIONS
were SO per cent below minimum
needs requested for that purpose.
Mr.. Rather said. Increased de-
fense needs, coupled with SPIRAL
ing home consumption, has put
I the heavy load on the pipelines,
! he said.
The official said there is no
# shortage of gas at the production
& level.
q Thus, sit is obvious the South
4 west will be in good shape, except
B for isolated instances" Mr.. Rather
h said. He denied, however, that
"a the shortage will be limited to
~ sections East of the Mississippi, as
has been rumored.
At the same time, he continued
: ''it is our purpose not to impose
restrictions in any area where
z there is adequate supply" Tc
} carry out this policy, he explained
widespread exemptions will be per-
mitted, if the tentative order i,
issued on Nationwide basis.
Concerned Months Ago.
r Mr.. Rather said PAD became
} concerned about the gas situation
y several months ago, when il
v heard repeated fears from indus.
;, try officials "about what woule
y happen if adequate (pipeline
n steel were not available" TIL,
x official said investigations made b,
PAD have borne out those fears
Meanwhile, Mr.. Parker said tn,
~ Columbia policy is to pro-rat,
h available supplies of gas "ove
a the entire area we serve" Peti
= tionS filed with utility regulator,
n commissions seek to apply tn,
n same restrictions to firms tina
= buy gas wholesale-Such as tn,
Washington company and firms il
u Baltimore and Richmond-as ar,
= applied to Columbia operated
companies in Eastern States, HI
a said.
a' Officials of Atlantic Seaboard
the Columbia subsidiary, which
se filed the petition affecting the
as gas CO., said similar petitions hav,
s. not been filed for the Baltimor,
Id and Richmond areas. They sale
Id the reason is that ceilings alread,
exist on gas supplies in those twt
r. areas, under Federal Power Com,
* mission restrictions.
IS, Recently Converted.
~ B. J. Pettigrew, Atlantic Sea
board counsel, said the FPC re-
D. strlctions are imposed to regulaJ,
s. development of the two firms
% which only recently converted t,
~ natural gas. He said the Balti
= = more firm is restricted to 10 mil
~ ~ lion cubic feet Of gas, and tn,
" Southern Virginia firm to A mil
' lion.
Nv Do ,.lya,, o, ~ 49, .r 4,