SAN DIEGO, Aug. 11, 2008 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) encourage customers to “call 811 before they dig” to avoid damaging natural gas lines when pursuing projects. 

        A recent survey by the National Gardening Association found that 68 percent of households anticipate do-it-yourself lawn and gardening projects in 2009, despite the recession.  These projects are the type that sometimes result in accidental pipeline punctures, according to J. Bret Lane, vice president of gas transmission and distribution for The Gas Company and SDG&E.

        “Even relatively minor projects such as installing a mailbox, putting up a new wall or fence, building a deck or other renovations can cause damage to a pipeline or result in unnecessary and costly damage, possible injury or service interruption,” said Lane.  “Since gas lines that serve homes are located underground and out of sight, we urge homeowners to make a quick phone call to Underground Service Alert to have utility lines marked for free.”

        Customers should call 811 to reach Underground Service Alert at least two working days before digging in their yard.  As a free service, Underground Service Alert will contact SDG&E or The Gas Company and other area utilities.  Each utility will then locate and mark the underground facilities they own.

        For more safety information, visit the Web sites of SDG&E and The Gas Company at www.sdge.com/safety or www.socalgas.com/safety. You can also call SDG&E at (800) 411-7343 or The Gas Company at (800) 427-2200.

        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 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.  The Gas Company is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 20.5 million consumers through 5.7 million meters. 

        SDG&E and The Gas Company are subsidiaries of Sempra Energy.  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 about 29 million consumers worldwide.

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