SAN DIEGO, March 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today reports to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) that 20.8 percent of the energy delivered to retail customers in 2011 was provided by renewable energy sources, such as wind, geothermal, biomass, hydroelectric and solar facilities.  Surpassing the 20 percent mark represents SDG&E's largest single year increase in renewable power in proportion to overall power sales; a considerable 9 percent over the utility's 2010 results.

In 2010, the company reported renewable energy deliveries representing a total of about 12 percent of its retail sales.

The 9 percent increase reported to the state regulators was due to the delivery of power from agreements involving wind and geothermal energy.

Of the overall 20.8 percent in retail renewable sales, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and solar projects accounted for almost 40 percent of the power.  About 60 percent of this total can be attributed to wind power.

In 2011, SDG&E signed 17 new power contracts with mostly solar and wind energy sources, representing 1,482 megawatts.   These contracts put SDG&E in a position to maintain California's 20 percent renewable portfolio requirements in the 2011 to 2013 time frame and achieve the 25 percent renewable power requirement by 2016.  SDG&E is on track to meet the state's mandate that 33 percent of its retail sales be produced from renewable energy projects by 2020.

"We have a very robust, creative and aggressive power purchasing team at SDG&E whose ongoing goal is to obtain competitively priced renewable power for our customers," said James P. Avery, SDG&E senior vice president, power supply.   "We have an obligation to meet California's renewable requirements, and, at the same time, need to put in place infrastructure that maintains power reliability and quality when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine. It is an interesting balance that brings into play our new renewables resources, clean natural gas fueled power generation and the flexibility and immediate response built into smart grid technology."

In 2012, SDG&E expects five new renewable energy projects within its energy portfolio will become operational. 

A key factor contributing to the 2012-2013 development of new renewable power projects in California's Imperial Valley is the anticipated completion of the Sunrise Powerlink transmission line later this year.

SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 850,000 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).  Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2011 revenues of $10 billion.  The Sempra Energy companies' 17,500 employees serve more than 31 million consumers worldwide.

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SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)