About 20,000 Southwest Gas residential customers in areas around Tucson, Ariz., spent several days without heat starting Feb. 3, the company said.

The local gas-distribution company attributes the problems partially to cold temperatures that froze gas impurities called hydrates at wellheads in the Texas Permian Basin, said utility spokeswoman Libby Howell.

Southwest Gas bought extra supplies of gas in an effort to replace supplies from the affected wellheads, she said, but the company faced another problem.

The area gets all of its natural gas through an El Paso Natural Gas pipeline, and power outages in Texas affected electric compressors along the pipeline, Howell said.

The company directed large industrial and agricultural customers to stop using gas temporarily.

The company also transported 100 workers to Tucson from other service areas, doubling the size of the field crews, Howell said. Workers first turned off meters for affected customers and then returned to turn on meters and ignite pilot lights when gas service was restored, she said.

Some customers began receiving gas again after one and a half days, and all customers had restored gas service within five days, she said.

San Diego Gas & Electric, which also receives gas through the El Paso line, cut off non-residential customers temporarily but reported no residential gas-service interruptions.

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