SAN DIEGO, March 26, 2007 – A longtime San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) employee who helps low-income and special-needs customers has been recognized for her work with 2-1-1 San Diego, the new national dialing code for free, 24-hour community assistance, health and disaster information, operated by INFO LINE of San Diego County.
 
        Yole Whiting, an SDG&E employee for 35 years, has received the organization’s “Thank You for Being a Partner” award.  Whiting is SDG&E’s director of customer assistance and has served on the board of the one-call health and human services resource for three years.  The first 2-1-1 call was made two years ago, connecting a needy person with community resources.
 
        Whiting said not only do SDG&E and 2-1-1 San Diego work closely together to help disadvantaged San Diego residents, but the organization ensures that SDG&E customers can access more than just bill relief.
 
        “I like to have customers call 2-1-1 because they get help not only with their utility bill but also housing or medical care or food assistance or anything else they need,” Whiting said.  “That’s why SDG&E has supported 2-1-1 and its predecessor organization for many years. “

        2-1-1 San Diego helps enroll SDG&E customers in the utility’s bill-assistance programs.  During times of high call volume, SDG&E customer-service representatives take calls for the organization.

        Whiting joined SDG&E as a customer service representative in 1972.  She was promoted into positions in regulatory affairs and marketing, prior to assuming her current job overseeing the utility’s customer assistance programs, including California Alternate Rates for Energy, Direct Assistance and Neighbor-to-Neighbor.  Whiting lives in El Cajon and works in SDG&E’s headquarters in Kearny Mesa.

        SDG&E currently serves 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 830,000 natural gas meters.  The utility’s service area spans 4,100 square miles and serves customers in more than 125 communities from Southern Orange County to the Mexican border.  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.  To learn more, go to www.sdge.com.

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