SAN DIEGO, Sept. 21, 2009 – Sempra Energy has earned the highest ranking among Southern California companies on the 2009 InformationWeek 500 list for use of advanced information technology.

        InformationWeek’s prestigious annual study spotlights the top 500 U.S. companies for information technology and innovation.  On this year’s list, published in the magazine’s September 2009 issue, Sempra Energy ranked No. 25, up from No. 176 last year.  

        "We take great pride in being ranked among the InformationWeek 500 list of the most technologically advanced companies for the second year in a row,” said Neal E. Schmale, president and chief operating officer of Sempra Energy. “Technology is a critical tool in bringing energy to millions of people every day and is even more important today with the advent of the smart energy grid.”

        "For over 20 years, the InformationWeek 500 has honored the most innovative users of business technology," said InformationWeek Editor-in-Chief Rob Preston. "Year after year, InformationWeek 500 companies harness technology to improve efficiency, boost productivity, drive revenue, and establish a competitive advantage.  We applaud this year’s winners, and the CIOs and other executives whose ingenuity and risk taking are at the center of business technology innovation."

        In another recent survey, Sempra Energy’s utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co., ranked No. 1 on the list of 100 “smart” U.S. utilities by Intelligent Utility magazine for pioneering advanced technology efforts and strategies.  SDG&E also ranked No. 3 in Computerworld’s 2009 “Best Places to Work in IT” for its deployment of advanced technology to benefit customers.

        Earlier this year, SDG&E began broad installation of digital “smart meters” for its 1.4 million customers.  The technology allows two-way communication between the utility and a customer’s meter, providing customers with detailed data that can help them reduce their energy use and costs.  All of the new digital-technology meters are expected to be installed by the end of 2011. 

        Additionally, SDG&E is partnering with 25 local, national and global organizations to transform the San Diego region’s electric grid into a digital smart grid aimed at helping utility customers play a central role in the consumption and production of energy.
 
        The 2009 InformationWeek 500 list is available at http://www.informationweek.com/iw500/2009/viewList/index.jhtml;jsessionid=KLUYYF1JQG4F5QE1GHOSKHWATMY32JVN.
 
        Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company with 2008 revenues of nearly $11 billion.  The Sempra Energy companies’ 13,600 employees serve more than 29 million consumers worldwide.

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