LOS ANGELES, Jan. 18, 2006 — As part of its continuing campaign to promote the benefits of energy efficiency, Southern California Gas Company (The Gas Company) is announcing a new set of rebates for the purchase of energy-efficient ovens, griddles, fryers and other commercial restaurant and food service equipment.

        The rebates are as follows for qualifying commercial natural gas equipment:

        ·   Pressureless steamers: $750

        ·   Fryers: $500

        ·   Combination ovens: $750

        ·   Convection ovens: $500

        ·   Griddles: $125

        Log on to www.socalgas.com/business/rebates to find the list of qualifying gas equipment models.  The list will grow throughout the year as more natural gas equipment qualifies through testing.
 
        All rebates are subject to change without notice and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funding is available.  Customers can qualify for multiple rebates through multiple purchases.
 
        “We’ve received more than $3,000 in rebates from The Gas Company in 2005 alone,” said Cynthia Campoy, purchasing manager for Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill, a restaurant chain headquartered in Carlsbad.  “And we’ll save more than that every year through the improved efficiency of the new cooking equipment.”
 
        The Gas Company also makes restaurant appliance purchase decisions easy through its Food Service Equipment Center in Downey, which features more than 150 pieces of new energy-efficient equipment from more than 60 different manufacturers. 

        “Any food service professionals can make appointments to test the latest ovens, griddles, fryers and other equipment at no charge,” said Mark Gaines, director of customer programs for The Gas Company.
 
        Also at no charge, the Food Service Equipment Center offers seminars on the latest trends in the food service industry, as well as a Ventilation and Baking Lab for testing up to five different combinations of ventilation hoods. 

        Log on to www.socalgas.com/business/foodservice to learn more about the center.
  
        “We want our customers to think of energy efficiency as a critical business issue, and to look to The Gas Company for valuable solutions,” Gaines said.  “We also invite any food service representatives to think of the Food Service Equipment Center as their one-stop resource for fine-tuning all of their kitchen operations.”

        About 5,000 people in the food service industry visit the Food Service Equipment Center every year.
       
        “The Gas Company offers plenty of money-saving opportunities through its energy-efficiency programs, and it doesn’t make good business sense to pass them up,” Campoy added.

        The Gas Company is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 19.5 million consumers through 5.5 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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