Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) is punching back against an attempt by state regulators that would force the utility to pay a hefty fine for using ratepayer funds to allegedly influence state building codes favoring electrification.

The California Public Advocates Office (CalPA) at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) asked that SoCalGas be fined $124 million. The fine would be in addition to a $255 million penalty recommended in December for allegedly violating a CPUC decision that barred the utility from advocating for energy efficiency building codes and appliance standards. The standards are a hot topic as there are calls to ban the use of natural gas in new buildings.

Separately, the Sierra Club accused the Sempra utility of using...