Sempra

Still three months before it makes an official general rate case filing, Sempra Energy’s San Diego Gas and Electric Co. is sparring a major utility consumer group over its plans to file for a $250.4 million increase in its base annual revenues. The utility notified the California Public Utilities Commission on Aug. 1 of its intention to file a general rate case by Dec.1 with an effective date in 2008.

In a summer in which demand response has become a new mantra for the power industry, Sempra Energy’s San Diego Gas and Electric Co. announced Monday it has begun installing what it is calling its “first wave” of advanced electric meters in a field test that will go on for a number of months. The high-tech meters enable two-way communications between the utility and customers in their homes or businesses.

Sempra Energy’s Los Angeles-based Southern California Gas Co. utility reported Thursday that it set a new summer demand record of 3.72 Bcf/d on July 24 when electric utilities throughout the state set all-time peak demand records. Gas demand from power generation was responsible for more than half the load, the company reported. Natural gas is the primary fuel for electric generation plants in the state, and particularly in the SoCalGas territory.

Sempra Energy’s Los Angeles-based Southern California Gas Co. utility reported Thursday that it set a record summer day sendout of 3.72 Bcf last July 24 when electric utilities throughout the state set all-time peak demand records. Natural gas is the primary fuel for electric generation plants in the state, and particularly in the SoCalGas territory.

Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. utility, operator of several major underground natural gas storage fields, now has a cost- and revenue-sharing process in place so it can explore for and produce supplies located adjacent to its storage fields in Southern California, following unanimous action Thursday by the California Public Utilities Commission. SoCalGas reached a settlement last July with a number of major stakeholders, including consumer groups, large customers and large producers, that was the basis for the regulatory action.

Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. utility, operator of several major underground natural gas storage fields, now has a cost- and revenue-sharing process in place so it can explore for and produce supplies located adjacent to its storage fields in Southern California, following unanimous action last Thursday by the California Public Utilities Commission. SoCalGas reached a settlement last July with a number of major stakeholders, including consumer groups, large customers and large producers, that was the basis for the regulatory action.

Following a mandate from state regulators who authorized increased funding, Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas Co. announced Thursday that it was expanding its energy efficiency programs for businesses, permitting qualifying customers to obtain up to $300,000 annually in rebates for cutting energy waste in their facilities and operations. In addition, for the first time, the SoCalGas programs are open to the utility’s largest industrial customers.

The state Superior Court judge hearing the ongoing class action lawsuit against Sempra Energy and its two utilities will convene a separate hearing Tuesday with attorneys trying to settle a lawsuit filed by California’s Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante in the wake of the 2000-2001 western wholesale energy market meltdown.

The state Superior Court judge hearing the ongoing class action lawsuit against Sempra Energy and its two utilities will convene a separate hearing Tuesday with attorneys trying to settle a lawsuit filed by California’s Lt. Gov. Cruz Bustamante in the wake of the 2000-2001 western wholesale energy market meltdown.