SAN DIEGO, Oct. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) joined other California utilities to kick off the 2^nd annual Careers in Energy Week, a nationwide initiative to promote science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education.  Careers in Energy Week aims to address the need for a qualified, diverse energy industry workforce and will take place throughout the week of Oct. 14.

"At SDG&E, our goal is to support programs that provide tools and resources to students in hopes of engaging them in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math," said Scott Drury, vice president of human resources, diversity and inclusion for SDG&E. "Careers in Energy Week is a great example of how we, as a community, are working together to develop our next generation of leaders in the region."

The Careers in Energy Week initiative has been proclaimed in 13 other states and was developed by the National Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD). Supported by Gov. Jerry Brown, this is California's second Careers in Energy Week designed to increase awareness about the role energy plays in our daily life at the student level.

SDG&E, along with other fellow utilities, will launch Careers in Energy Week with targeted student outreach to educational institutions in the state, including high schools, community colleges, and universities to reinforce the viable opportunities around STEM curriculum within the energy industry.

During Careers in Energy Week, individual high school students and teams of community college and university students will be able to win cash prizes through video and app development contests describing why a career in the energy/utility industry is exciting, innovative and engaging. Six prizes in total will be awarded to winners, three in each competition with prizes ranging from $250 to $1,000. Winners will be notified after
Jan. 1, 2014.

To learn more about the rules, guidelines and how to enter, visit: www.sdge.com/newsroom.

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 861,000 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)