SAN DIEGO, March 16, 2006 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) is joining Councilmember Toni Atkins, the City of San Diego, San Diego Regional Energy Office, People for Trees, the San Diego Regional Urban Forest Council, and the Urban Corps of San Diego to host a Community Tree Planting Saturday, March 18, at Balboa Park’s Morley Field from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (off Morley Field Drive). 

        The event will take place rain or shine.

  Dozens of trees will be planted in several locations at the park and more than 500 "starter" trees will be given away to the public.  This free event will also feature booths, displays, giveaways and refreshments, along with appearances by Louie the Lightning Bug, SDG&E’s safety mascot and Smokey the Bear.

        “We are proud to join these respected organizations to inform the public about the many programs out there that help preserve trees while also keeping our community safe,” said David Geier, vice president - electric transmission and distribution for SDG&E.   “We support all efforts to have trees planted in the right place to prevent electrical and gas outages and fire hazards.” 

        “This event will help to beautify our community and give the public information about how to plant and care for trees and prevent fires.  We welcome families and individuals to come and take part to learn about one of our greatest resources,” said Councilmember Toni Atkins, whose Third District includes Balboa Park and Morley Field. 

        “We’re pleased to be a part of this event that will help promote our mission of creating a healthy urban forest environment that is greener, cooler, and more harmonious for the benefit of all and for future generations,” said Laura LiMandri, president and treasurer for People for Trees, a nonprofit group dedicated to coordinating tree planting, educating the public and providing information about planting trees in urban areas.

        On Saturday, SDG&E also will receive an award naming SDG&E as a “Tree Line USA Utility” for the fourth year in a row.  Sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation, in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters, the award recognizes public and private utilities across the nation that demonstrate practices that protect and enhance America’s urban forests.
 
        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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