The California Public Utilities Commission granted emergency...

The California Public Utilities Commission granted emergency authority to Southern California Gas to broaden its cutoff of natural gas to additional customers if gas reserves reach a “critically low” point. The cold weather has slashed deliveries of gas into the state while creating record demand in Southern California. SoCal Gas has already stopped deliveries to electric utilities and is preparing to curtail shipments to large industrial customers as well. The PUC authorized it to divert so-called transportation gas--that owned by large customers but being delivered by the gas company--to assure enough supplies for residential customers and others without the capability to switch to other fuels.