LOS ANGELES, CA -- A SoCalGas Advisory was issued Sunday urging utility customers to immediately reduce their natural gas use in an effort to reduce the risk of possible natural gas and electricity shortages.

The advisory program was ordered by the California Public Utilities Commission to address concern about regional energy reliability this winter due to the moratorium on gas injection operations at the Aliso Canyon facility, SoCalGas said. Residential customers were urged to reduce natural gas use by lowering thermostats to 68 degrees or below, wait a day to use natural gas appliances and wash clothes in cold water when possible, according to the statement.

SoCalGas also issued a system-wide curtailment watch to large commercial and industrial customers advising them they may receive a notice to curtail service. "SoCalGas is currently meeting system demands utilizing significant storage withdrawal," the advisory said. "Due to severe cold weather conditions throughout the southwestern United States and the SoCalGas service territory, there is a potential for interstate pipeline supply disruptions."

More than 95 percent of Southern Californians use natural gas to heat their homes and about 60 percent of electricity used in homes comes from natural gas power plants, the utility said. The advisory will continue until further notice, SoCalGas said.