SAN DIEGO, Mar. 5, 2007 – With spring and summer fast approaching, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is planning ahead for expected hotter weather and higher electricity usage by offering business incentives for energy conservation through the Energy Saver Bonus program. 

        Under the program, business customers who also plan ahead will benefit from the Energy Saver Bonus by saving energy and receiving a one-time, bonus cash payment, for a limited time.  SDG&E officials say the region also benefits because the program helps reduce energy demands both during the peak-use season and over the long term.

        “Energy Saver Bonus offers businesses an extra incentive for participating in two programs that ultimately will save them energy and money, so it’s a winning proposition,” said Mark Gaines, SDG&E’s director of customer programs.  “A key part of SDG&E’s energy resource plan is to help reduce overall demand for electricity, so we developed this campaign to integrate our energy-efficiency and demand-response programs in a new way to make saving energy even more attractive to businesses.  Energy Saver Bonus will help us achieve our goals while benefiting the entire region.”

        Business customers must enroll in both a demand-response and an energy- efficiency program by June 30 and complete project installation by Dec. 31, 2007, to receive an additional 5 percent one-time cash bonus of the total program incentive.   For example, a typical restaurant, commercial building or an industrial facility that meets the program criteria could receive a cash incentive of approximately $7,500 for a typical project.

        A variety of SDG&E energy-efficiency programs are available for all business sizes and types.   In addition, all business customers that reduce their energy use during peak energy periods can receive savings through bill credits and incentives through SDG&E’s Demand Response programs. 

        To learn more about the Energy Saver Bonus, visit www.sdge.com/energysaverbonus or call SDG&E’s Energy Information Center at (800) 644-6133.

        For more details on additional money-saving, energy-efficiency opportunities for businesses or residential customers, visit SDG&E’s Web site at www.sdge.com.

        SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 825,000 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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