SAN DIEGO, Feb. 4, 2011 – The natural gas curtailments that affected as many as 88 commercial/industrial customers in San Diego County were lifted today by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).
  
A combination of factors contributed to ending the curtailments, including an improvement in natural gas supplies and pipeline deliveries, slightly warmer local temperatures and anticipated lower natural gas demand over the upcoming weekend.
 
The cold weather conditions in Texas and southern Rocky Mountain natural gas producing regions forced major natural gas pipelines, including El Paso Natural Gas Company and Transwestern Pipeline, to declare emergency critical operating conditions.  The weather conditions in the Midwest continue to cause significant energy-related issues for that region which impacts supply to the Western states.  SDG&E continues to monitor the natural gas system situation very closely and is in close contact with pipeline operators and suppliers.
   
The customers affected by these curtailments were large natural gas customers, such as power plants and commercial and industrial facilities, who pay a lower rate due to signed agreements that require that they cut their natural gas use should supplies run low.  No residential SDG&E natural gas customers were affected by these natural gas curtailments.  SDG&E has 845,000 natural gas customers in its service territory.

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