SAN DIEGO, March 11, 2008– San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced it has issued a competitive solicitation seeking supply of renewable-energy resources to help the utility meet California’s mandate to derive 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources starting in 2010.  This latest solicitation, also known as a “request for offers” (RFO), will help to further increase SDG&E’s supplies of clean, renewable power for the region’s energy portfolio.

        “For the last five years, SDG&E has aggressively pursued renewable energy from developers whose projects deliver clean energy to our customers in San Diego and South Orange Counties,” said Matt Burkhart, vice president electric and gas procurement for SDG&E.  “For this year’s solicitation, SDG&E seeks both long-term and short-term contracts that will build on our existing clean, ’green’ energy resources and will aid us in our effort to secure 20 percent of our energy from renewables by 2010.”

        Through the bidding process, or RFO, SDG&E is seeking energy that comes from solar, wind, geothermal, biomass and any other clean, renewable resource that qualifies under the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard program.  The plants that produce the power can be inside or outside the SDG&E service territory.  Bids are due April 30, 2008.

        The evaluation and selection of offers includes active participation by SDG&E’s Procurement Review Group, comprised of California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) staff, consumer advocates and other non-market participants, as well as an independent evaluator.  These entities are involved at all stages of the process, including the preparation of the RFO, bid evaluation and determination of the final “short list” of bidders.  Once the evaluation process is completed, all proposed contracts are subject to CPUC review and approval.

        More information about this latest RFO for renewable energy is available at http://www.sdge.com/renewablerfo2008.

        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 800,000 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 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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