Evening star., 1951-08-16
Sharp Cuts Ordered
In Natural Gas Use
During Emergency

The petroleum Administration |
for Defense yesterday clamped
down on expansion of natural gas
heating in the East and parts of
the Midwest, but allowed gas COM
panies a leeway of / per cent inl
taking care of future customers.
The new ruling, designed to pro-
tect natural gas supplies needed
in the defense effort, will affect
the Washington Gas Light Co.
among other suppliers in the Dis
trict of Columbia and Is States.
The cut will not apply to Vir-I
ginia. The State Corporation
Commission took advantage Of
the new Defense Production Act
option allowing State regulatory
bodies authority over natural gas
supplies. The Maryland Public
Service Commission, however. has
not yet acted, and until it does,
gas company officials said they
will be unable to formulate an
intelligent program.
Will Abide by Order.
The Washington Gas Light Co.
said it has a total of 285 900 users
in the Washington area. OF these,
there are 177,000 in the District,
So 900 in Maryland and $4,000 in
Virginia.
Company officials said today
they will follow the PAD order
and will not make any installations
until the problem is cleared. They
pointed out that the District Pub
lie Utilities Commission already
has announced it will go along
with the order.
The figure of 285, 900 meters in
the system includes those of the
Rosslyn Gas Co. and the Wash
Iington Gas Light Co. of Md, Inc,
officials said. There is a total of
100, ,060 house-heating customers in
the Washington area. they ex-
planned. The others are industrial,
commercial and other types Of
users.
In addition to the / per cent,
gas companies can obtain sus-
pension of the order provided they
certify their supplies of natural
gas are ample for all demands.
For this suspension, the companies
must file before next Wednesday.
Effective August 22.
Installation of natural gas CEN
trail space heating units would be
banned after August %, unless
suspension is requested and the
l per cent additional of present
customers is taken advantage of.
Washington appliance dealers
have stocked UP on gas-l.eating
equipment and have quite heavy
inventory. it is understood, due
to the popularity Of gas heat. The
l per cent provision in the new
PAD order will enable them to
dispose of part of this equipment,
observers close to the situation
said.
Bruce K. Brown, deputy PAD
administrator, said the order "does
not take gas away from any one
who is using it. 1t does not affect
in any way the use of gas for
cooking, hot-water heating, re-
frigeration or incidental house
heating.
No Services Cancelled.
ut does not cancel service for
homes started prior to August %
1851, or any firm commitments
made by gas companies before
that date for the supplying of nat
Iural gas"
The deputy administrator
pointed out that prompt relaxa-
tion of the order is provided for
whenever the gas supplies are
sufficient" to maintain services
for existing customers and protect
defense industries.
Subject to the order, in addi-
tion to the District are: Connecti-
cut. Delaware, Maryland, Massa-
Ichusetts, Michigan, New Hamp-
shire, New Jersey. New York, Ohio,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vir-
Iginia, Wisconsin, West Virginia
and Kentucky.