LOS ANGELES, Jan. 31, 2007– Southern California Gas Company (The Gas Company) is offering customers more than $2 million in rebates this year to apartment complex and mobile home park owners who buy qualifying energy-efficient appliances for their multi-family buildings – an increase of more than 30 percent from last year.

        “These rebates are only the beginning,” said Mark Gaines, The Gas Company’s director of customer programs.  “Participants save even more money by using less fuel.”

        The Gas Company is boosting its rebate funding because energy efficiency plays a critical role in reducing customer natural gas bills, meeting the state’s energy needs and helping the environment, Gaines added.

        The rebates cover a breadth of qualifying energy-efficient equipment, including:

           Central system natural gas boilers:                             $1,500
           Natural gas water heater and/or boiler controllers:     up to $1,500
           Central system natural gas water heaters:                 $500
           Central system natural gas furnaces:                          $200
           Natural gas storage water heaters:                            $30
           Dishwashers:                                                               up to $50
           Attic/wall insulation:                                                     $0.15 per square foot
 
        Gaines encouraged apartment and mobile home park owners not to overlook the advantages of temperature controllers, which keep track of the periods of high demand and low demand – and adjust the water heater’s energy use accordingly.  “Controllers can help apartment owners save money by conserving energy during off-peak periods,” Gaines said.

        The rebates are available to owners, and their authorized agents of existing residential multi-family complexes with two or more dwelling units.

        To download the multi-family rebate application, visit www.socalgas.com/residential/contractors/.  For more information, call (800) 427-4400.

        The Gas Company’s energy-efficiency programs for business and residential customers in 2006-08 have a goal of saving about 58 million therms of natural gas – enough energy to serve about 107,000 homes for a year.

        All rebates and incentives 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 The Gas Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

        The Gas Company is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 19.8 million consumers through 5.6 million meters.  The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles in most of central and Southern California.  The Gas Company strives to provide exceptional customer service to enhance the quality of life in the community.  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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