Public Utilities Commission withdraws proposed moratorium on natural gas connections

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has withdrawn resolution G-3536 directing SoCalGas to place a moratorium on the installation of new natural gas connections for commercial and industrial customers in all of Los Angeles County. The resolution was formally withdrawn due to warmer than expected winter weather coupled with plentiful gas reserves. It will remain on the March 1 agenda for procedural reasons. The City of Los Angeles opposed the moratorium but asked the Building and Safety Department to recommend ways to reduce the demand for natural gas. The City also asked for possible strategies to convert existing gas uses to electricity, in alignment with its greenhouse gas reduction targets. The California Restaurant Association, McDonald’s, Panda Restaurant Group and others opposed the moratorium.