LOS ANGELES, Nov. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) is once again inviting customers and employees to contribute to the company's Gas Assistance Fund, a bill-assistance program that helps income-qualified customers facing financial hardships with a one-time grant of up to $100 per customer.

"The Gas Assistance Fund gives the gift of warmth to help customers who need assistance stretch their budget toward other important necessities," said Gillian Wright, director of customer programs for SoCalGas. "SoCalGas thanks the caring customers and employees whose generous donations have helped improve the quality of life across our communities for more than 30 years. We gratefully welcome their support."

Anyone interested in making a contribution is asked to mail their voluntary tax-deductible donations to: United Way, Gas Assistance Fund, File 56826, Los Angeles, CA 90074-6826, or donate online at www.unitedwayla.org.

Since the program's inception in 1983, SoCalGas customers, employees, and shareholders have contributed more than $18 million, with funds distributed annually. The Gas Assistance Fund is administered by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles and has helped more than 200,000 SoCalGas customers pay their natural gas utility bills in times of need.

SoCalGas collects donations to the Gas Assistance Fund throughout the year and will distribute the funds between February and the end of May 2014, or until they are depleted. Customers can visit socalgas.com (search "GAF") to learn if they qualify for a grant. SoCalGas and United Way of Greater Los Angeles work with 80 to 100 volunteer, nonprofit and community-based organizations throughout our service territory to help income-qualified customers obtain a grant to pay their natural gas utility bill.

In addition to the Gas Assistance Fund, SoCalGas offers other customer assistance programs and services that can help them manage home energy costs during the winter months. More information is available at socalgas.com, or toll-free at (800) 427-2200 or (800) 342-4545 in Spanish.

About Southern California Gas Co.
Southern California Gas Co. has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 140 years. It is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing service to 20.9 million consumers connected through nearly 5.8 million meters in more than 500 communities. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles throughout central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border. Southern California Gas Co. is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).

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SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.