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SDG&E to Donate Up to $10,000 to Customers' Favorite Environmental Charities

Customers Can Vote When They Sign Up for Electronic Billing

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 13, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has announced that it will donate up to $10,000 to environmental organizations based on customers' electronic ballots. To vote, customers need to sign up for SDG&E's electronic bill-paying service on the SDG&E Web site, www.sdge.com.

"If all customers paid their bills online, we could save as many as 750 trees and 9 million gallons of water a year by using less paper and ink for billing," said Pam Fair, vice president of customer operations for SDG&E. "Customers also can streamline payment of their utility bills, as well as gain access to their bill-payment history from the 'My Account' service on the SDG&E Web site."

To highlight the environmental benefits of online bill payment, SDG&E is planning to donate up to $10,000 to three charitable groups -- Anza Borrego Foundation, Cuyamaca Rancho State Park Interpretive Association and Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation -- based on the percentage of votes they receive from customers who enroll in the program.

To enroll, customers will need their SDG&E account number and banking information, and the balance on their account must be current. Participating customers will begin receiving their bills online, as well. Customers with multiple accounts will be able to link, view and pay bills for all their accounts electronically.

Customers who are now on the Automatic Pay plan or the Pay-by-Phone plan will be able to streamline their payment process by switching to electronic billing.

"Customers have indicated a strong desire to control their energy expenses," Fair said. "Now, they will be able to gain access to their usage information, conduct an online audit of their home and business, plus monitor the SDG&E Web site for available rebates."

For more information, go to www.sdge.com and click on "My Account."

SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.3 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy . Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company. To learn more, go to www.sdge.com.

CONTACT:  San Diego Gas & Electric
          Ed Van Herik
          (877) 866-2066
          www.sdge.com