Show to Conclude Hearing On Gas Connection Freeze Ii Group p to Report On n Wyoming Survey Confab Linwood W. W Davis Commercial Commercial Commercial Com Com- mercial Petroleum Corp orf of- of f foial Denver told the Utah public service commission Frida Friday Fri Fri- day da afternoon his company way was prepared to build transmission lines to the Mountain Fuel Supply Supply Sup Sup- pl ply Co s system stem which could bring an estimated I cubic feet of gas per da day from the La Ln Barge field in southwestern southwestern southwestern south south- western Wyoming Mr Davis I came to Salt Lake City seeking seeking seek seek- ing to learn if the market in inthe inthe the Salt Lake area is sufficiently largo Jargo to maint maintain n ln such a pipe line A state public service commission commission commission commis commis- sion hearing on an application to continue a temporary freeze order on new gas connections for home heating was expected to conclude conclude conclude con con- clude Friday afternoon The hearing r recessed e c e s s e d since Tuesday was to begin at 2 pm p.m. atthe at atthe atthe the capitol Evidence that may have an important bearing on the commission decision was to be presented presented presented pre pre- by members of the commis commission commis- commis slon sion staff The staff members were sent to Casper Wyo Tuesday night to meet with officials of the United States geological survey for a discussion discussion discussion dis dis- of a possible increased development development development de de- immediately of the Church Buttes Wyo natural gas field Principal Source Church Buttes is is- is is-a is a principal sour source of gas used by Utah consumers consumers consumers con con- sumers and is operated by the Mountain Fuel Supply Co The company is asking that the temporary temporary temporary tem tem- order of March 4 prohibiting prohibit prohibit- ing new gas connections for other than refrigeration water heating and cooking be continued pending development of an increased gas supply During the hearings held two days last week and Monday and Tuesday of this week the company company company com com- pany has argued for and produced evidence in support of its petition Officials of oC the company have said that unless the order is granted there will be an estimated million cubic f et of gas per day deficiency in supply to meet the anticipated peak load next winter With the restriction according to the company the supply of gas I will be adequate to handle the fuel load in Utah I Protestants of the petition are home builders and other agencies with a direct interest in home construction construction construction con con- I and gas a appliance p p l I i a n c e l I dealers I The home builders state they stand to suffer losses on homes planned p l I a ann n n e d for construction this spring and summer ummer unless gas is isa a available These homes are centered centered centered cen cen- around gas heating construction construction construction con con- for which costs le less s than for other types of fuel Conversions Conversions Conversions Con Con- versions to other types of heating systems w will ll price the homes out of the market for which they are intended the home builders claim Appliance dealers have submitted submitted submitted submit submit- ted evidence e to the commission that they increased stocks of gas heating units on the request of the gas company which they allege intimated there would be adequate gas bas available 8 With V th these stocks which they will twill be unable to sell I unless there is gas available the appliance dealers say they willI will I also lose a lot Jot of money Press for Action Both groups of protestants have asked the commission to force the company either to make immediate immedi immedi- ate expenditures even though they are not sound investments to in increase increase increase in- in crease the supply of gas or to cut cutoff cutoff cutoff off consumers with standby heating heating heating heat heat- ing equipment that can use another another anther an an- I other ther type of fuel even though the switch would be costly to o the standby consumer With these consumers cut off from gas the supply would be adequate for I homes Tomes it is argued Company officials have introduced introduced intro intro- evidence that the company has ins done everything poss possible ble to meet the postwar demand for gas They have pointed out that a well currently being dr drilled at Church Buttes and to be completed by July luly could be a large producer |