SAN DIEGO, March 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Unified with community, consumer protection and labor advocates, last week San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) asked the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) for a rehearing on Net Energy Metering to create a better program for customers.

"We urged the CPUC to correct the unfairness of the net energy metering rules that are forcing the low-income and working poor residents that we serve to pay for the solar of much wealthier people," said Ray King, president and CEO of the Urban League of San Diego County and a leading community advocate. "We were ignored in the final decision, but now the commission can take the opportunity to correct the social injustice."

In addition to the pleas of the utilities and advocates, two CPUC commissioners also voted "no" on approving the program's future state with one commissioner citing that "any decision that benefits the few at the cost of the many can only be sustained for so long."

"The company's request for a rehearing further solidifies our continued efforts to create a more equitable pricing structure for all customers while supporting the growth of rooftop solar," said Caroline Winn, SDG&E's chief energy delivery officer. "SDG&E is focused on solutions that strike a balance between affordability and supporting emerging technologies. Thankfully, solar technology is now established and ready to flourish on its own."

SDG&E believes that creating a solar rooftop program that adds value for all customers should be a top priority. To date, more than 82,000 SDG&E's customers have installed solar, many doing so with the aid of SDG&E innovations that help to make the process safer, quicker, and more affordable. The company will continue its efforts to make solar more accessible and affordable for all customers.

The company has asked for modifications that will help to limit increases on customers' electric bills until 2019 when the CPUC will fully re-evaluate the program. SDG&E's primary requested modification had been included in the commission's proposed decision but removed the day before the final decision.

SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.5 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and 873,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. SDG&E is committed to creating ways to help customers save energy and money every day. SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego. Connect with SDG&E's Customer Contact Center at 800-411-7343, on Twitter (@SDGE) and Facebook.

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SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)