HOLYOKE -- Holyoke Gas and Electric (HG&E) has imposed a moratorium on new natural gas connections for residential and business customers, citing no increases in pipeline capacity by Berkshire Gas and Columbia Gas of Massachusetts.

In a statement, HG&E said the "load has grown significantly and is now operating at capacity during peak periods," which triggered the moratorium on new gas connections. A Tennessee Gas pipeline, known as the Northampton Lateral, became "severely constrained" as a result of high demand in the last 20 years.

Berkshire and Columbia began implementing service moratoriums in 2014, which were also related to the Northampton Lateral capacity problem.

HG&E suggested existing customers could improve their existing service by replacing aging gas furnaces, stoves or water heaters, but only if the "load profile does not increase and the service was active as of Dec. 31, 2018."

The utility said it could accommodate specific commercial and industrial requests, which also are dependent on load profile and "the ability for those new customers to utilize dual fuel during peak periods on HG&E's interruptible rate."

HG&E further stated that while the nation's natural gas supply is plentiful, the current pipeline infrastructure is lacking.

"Recent proposals that would increase natural gas capacity in the region have been met with opposition, and the current pipeline constraints are causing significant adverse environmental and economic impacts on the region's ratepayers," read the statement.

Neighbor to Neighbor, a Holyoke-based group, opposes increased capacity, citing environmental and safety concerns. Several members of the group recently addressed the Holyoke City Council's Development and Government Relations Committee chaired by Ward 4 Councilor David K. Bartley.

James Lavelle, HG&E's manager, countered by stating that New England utilities burned 2 million barrels of oil during a 15-day "cold spell" in January 2018, which exceeded the total consumed in 2017.