LOS ANGELES, June 15, 2009 -- Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) has been awarded the “Outstanding Lease Maintenance Award” for two of its natural gas storage facilities located in the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.  The award was given by the California Department of Conservation’s Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources, Ventura division.
 
        The Gas Company’s Aliso Canyon site, located near Northridge, was honored with the award for the 25th consecutive year, and the Honor Rancho site, located near Valencia, for the 23rd consecutive year. The Gas Company has been informed that it also will receive an award for its Playa del Rey storage facility.

        “This award is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our employees to ensure that our underground storage operations are safe and efficient around the clock,” said Lee M. Stewart, senior vice president of gas operations at The Gas Company.

        The annual award recognizes gas- and oil-field lease operators for outstanding maintenance of wells, compliance with regulations and good corporate citizenship.  Sites are nominated for the award by field inspectors for the Department of Conservation.

        The Gas Company earned three of the 37 Outstanding Lease Maintenance Awards given by the Department of Conservation to oil, gas and geothermal operators in the state in 2008.  The award recognizes lease-maintenance efforts that enhance safety and environmental protection above and beyond what is required.

        Both the Aliso Canyon and Honor Rancho sites have been in service since the mid-1970s.  The Playa del Rey site has been in operation since the mid-1940s.  The Gas Company developed these facilities to meet the rapidly growing need for natural gas.  The fields continue to benefit from improvements to surface facilities and reservoir operations and have expanded to meet continued market growth.

        The Department of Conservation oversees operations at The Gas Company storage fields.  The state agency also ensures the safe exploration and development of oil, gas and geothermal resources.  This includes oversight of the construction, operation and closure of wells used to tap energy resources, which is important for conservation of natural resources and in safeguarding drinking and agricultural waters.

        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 safe and reliable energy to 20.5 million consumers through 5.7 million meters in more than 500 communities.  The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles in diverse terrain throughout Central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border.  The Gas Company is a regulated subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE).  Sempra Energy, based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company.
  
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