SoCalGas lifts advisory to conserve natural gas

“We will open this out and it will let some solar heating in until it starts getting cold,” says Richard Hatton as he opens the curtains in his house.

Hatton and his wife are from the Midwest and they say they are used to temperatures dipping way below freezing.

However, on days like this, they are happy to see the sunshine.

“I grew up before there was central heating and I am used to the cold temperatures,” says Hatton.

For the past few days, SoCalGas were asking customers to keep their thermostats at 68 degrees and use cold water when doing laundry.

Emails with the advisory were sent out to hundreds across the state.

“In all of my years I don’t think I have ever had an advisory like that,” he says.

SoCalGas company officials say during the colder temps they wanted to reduce the risk of a possible gas shortage.

This year they say they have less access to natural gas and aren’t able to use the Aliso Canyon Facility until regulators test it out to make sure methane is no longer leaking.

The Hattons have been married for 50 years and don’t disagree on much. However, Richard says every once in a while he’ll put the thermostat at 68 degrees and his wife, she likes it a degree or two warmer.

“It was set at 69 degrees and the sunshine during the day has brought it up to 70 degrees,” he says.

With the cold temps and months ahead, the Hattons say they will continue to do their part to conserve energy.

“After I learned of that i shut down the thermostat it was already at 68 degrees and I’ll turn it back on when I hear otherwise,” he says.

The advisory has been lifted but officials remind people there are still cold months ahead and they should try and continue to conserve natural gas.