In a program it hopes to replicate with other cities and utilities, Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. has committed up to $2.2 million in energy efficiency programs and services to the Palm Desert (CA) Demonstration Project for 2007-2008, with the possibility of more funds in subsequent years, the company said Tuesday. The program serves part of the energy-sensitive desert resort community about 120 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.

The city-driven program will provide advertising and education campaigns, free energy audits and a broad range of residential and commercial natural gas energy-saving programs, the utility said. They include:

As part of a series of “energy efficiency partnerships,” the gas utility is partnering with Southern California Edison Co. in providing heating, ventilation and air conditioning programs. There are also incentives for installing more efficient swimming pool heaters and for demonstrating solar water-heating systems.

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