LOS ANGELES, Sept. 17, 2010 - Southern California Gas Co.  (The Gas Company)announced today that it is taking additional steps to respond to customer concerns that have arisen following last week’s natural gas pipeline explosion in San Bruno, Calif.  As part of this, the utility will provide additional information to customers who live or operate a business near a natural gas transmission pipeline.  

        “We recognize that, as a result of this tragic accident, many people are concerned about the location and safety of our natural gas pipeline system,” said Michael W. Allman, president and CEO of The Gas Company.  “We already have a strong pipeline safety program, but we have decided to take these extra steps to respond to customer concerns and demonstrate that we take their concern about safety seriously.”

        In early October, information will be sent to customers who are located close to The Gas Company’s transmission pipelines.  This mailing will go to customers who are located within one-eighth mile of a transmission line.  Generally, transmission lines are large diameter, high-pressure pipelines that deliver natural gas into the local distribution system. 

        In addition, the utility will continue to send pipeline safety information to all customers because natural gas pipelines exist throughout southern California. 

        Additionally, The Gas Company will place transmission pipeline information included in the U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration’s on-line database on its website, www.socalgas.com.  The utility has been referring customers to the federal government’s site to obtain information about the location of its transmission pipelines.  However, it appears that the site has been experiencing difficulties due to a high volume of web traffic.  As a result, to make it easier for its customers, The Gas Company is duplicating the pipeline map information of its service territory on its company website.

        The Gas Company also is providing electronic files of this transmission pipeline system data to cities and other governmental agencies that request the information.  And, it is scheduling a briefing with local government officials and their emergency responders to update them on the operation of its pipeline system and ongoing pipeline safety program.
       
        The utility is accelerating scheduled leak surveys of transmission pipelines in urban areas that have not been surveyed in the last six months.  Surveys of these lines will be completed within a month.

        Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) has been delivering clean, safe and reliable natural gas to its customers for more than 140 years.  It is the nation’s largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 20.5 million consumers through 5.7 million meters in more than 500 communities.  The company’s service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles in diverse terrain throughout Central and Southern California, from Visalia to the Mexican border.  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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