SAN DIEGO, June 9, 2009 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) announced today that nearly $40 million in rebates and incentives are available to local business customers this year for qualifying energy-efficiency projects.

        SDG&E shared the good news with more than 1,200 business representatives gathered for its 4th Annual Energy Showcase in San Diego. 

        “The higher funding levels for these energy-efficiency programs will benefit the environment and also help businesses weather the current weak economy,” said Mark Gaines, director of customer programs for SDG&E.  “We’re helping to pay for many energy-saving projects with low up-front costs and fast paybacks, which can improve profitability for participating customers in a relatively short time.”

        The event featured seminars by customers who have taken advantage of the company’s energy rebates, incentives, free onsite energy-efficiency assessments and zero-interest financing programs.

        Hamann Construction, a local San Diego construction company recently took advantage of SDG&E’s energy-efficiency programs and the utility helped the company design a cold-storage facility to run on 60-percent less electricity than standard facilities—as well as earn almost $230,000 in SDG&E incentives.

        “The new facility can hold four times more product than the old facility, yet it takes half as much energy to operate,” said Phoebe Hamann, green building specialist for Hamann Construction.  “We’re saving both energy and money.”

        SDG&E’s zero-interest loan program helped the Radisson Suite Hotel in Rancho Bernardo become more energy-efficient.

        “SDG&E financed our new energy-efficient air-conditioning units through a $25,000 loan with no interest, and no out-of-pocket or up-front costs to us,” said Vejay Seudath, chief engineer at the Radisson Suite Hotel in Rancho Bernardo.  “We did not want to miss out on the financial and overall energy savings.”

        Also at the Energy Showcase, SDG&E recognized 10 San Diego County organizations for outstanding energy-efficiency efforts:  the San Diego Convention Center, the U.S. Marine Corps’ Camp Pendleton base, American Internet Services, Poway Unified School District, Charles Koll Jewelers, CP Kelco, Hamann Construction, Hokto Kinoko Co., AC Energy Systems and American Lighting Supply.

        For more information, business owners and representatives can contact SDG&E at (800) 411-7343, or visit www.sdge.com. 

        SDG&E’s energy-efficiency programs are subject to change without notice and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funding is available.  These programs are funded by California utility customers and administered by SDG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

        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 more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.  The utility’s area spans 4,100 square miles.  Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region’s quality of life.  SDG&E is a subsidiary of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.


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