EDWARDS TOLD TO CUT GAS USAGE.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - With their natural-gas provider struggling to secure fuel supplies, Edwards Air Force Base officials are telling personnel to reduce energy consumption and be prepared for gas cutbacks.

While Lancaster, Palmdale and other Antelope Valley communities are supplied by Southern California Gas Co., Edwards is served by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, which says its financial crisis is prompting suppliers to demand payment upfront for natural gas supplies.

PG&E says it cannot make the advance payments. The U.S. Energy Department issued a directive Friday telling the suppliers to sell to the utility, but that directive ends today.

PG&E is running low on its natural gas supplies, and its reserve will be depleted by early February if the Energy Department order is not extended, company officials say. Depending on demand, curtailments could occur this month, said PG&E spokeswoman Staci Homrig.

Under those circumstances, the Public Utilities Commission rules would require supplies to large users to be cut.

``Unfortunately, there is no priority for military bases, hospitals or universities,'' Homrig said.

Any natural gas curtailments would not affect the base housing area, the Child Development Center or the North Base area, Edwards officials said. However, the main base - including dormitories, the dining facility and the Air Force Research Laboratory - could be affected.

``Though we should be spared from any blackouts, our gas supply is interruptible in areas of the base other than housing,'' Maj. Gen Richard ``Dick'' Reynolds, Edwards' commander, said in the base newspaper. ``Let's all do our best to minimize energy consumption and help reduce the impact of this tough situation.''

Base personnel are being advised to lower thermostats and to wear warm clothes. Although housing areas won't be affected by any curtailment, Edwards residents are being asked to lower their thermostats as well and to do as much energy conservation as possible.

At the Air Force Research Laboratory - Propulsion Directorate, commonly known as the rocket lab - personnel are being told to wear sweaters and that boilers heated by natural gas would be turned down to minimal levels.

Meanwhile, PG&E said it continues talking with Energy Department officials about extending the order to suppliers. The initial order prompted two of three suppliers that had quit providing natural gas to PG&E to resume, and two other companies have increased the amount of fuel they are willing to provide to the company.

PG&E's natural gas problems are the result of the dire financial straits the company is facing from the electricity crisis. The company says it is on the brink of financial collapse because it must pay high costs to acquire electricity but is limited by state price controls on what it can charge customers.

Southern California Gas Co. says it is not facing the same problems. Southern California Gas has a healthy underground storage reserve and has long-term commitments locked up with its suppliers, a company spokeswoman said.