San Diego, September 3, 2010 — The California Public Utilities Commission approved a San Diego Gas and Electric solar power initiative that provides for 100 MW of photovoltaic solar energy.

Under the initiative, 26 MW of utility-owned generation would be slated for construction on existing SDG&E property, with the remaining 74 MW to be purchased from independent power producers.

The initiative could more than double the nearly 80 MW of solar power currently generated in the utility's service territory.

The program calls for SDG&E to install and procure renewable solar power using projects primarily in the one to two megawatt range and also provides for PV solar installations ranging from less than a megawatt up to 5 MW. In addition to developing its own local solar projects, SDG&E will solicit power purchase agreements for solar power at other sites in the region.

SDG&E's local solar initiative is designed to compliment the 1 MW or less solar projects currently developed under the direction of the California Solar Initiative.

According to the decision, the preferred location of these new solar arrays will help meet anticipated high power demand and/or assist in minimizing congestion on SDG&E's power grid.

SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides energy service to 3.4 million consumers through 1.4 million electric meters and more than 840,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties.

The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. SDG&E is a unit of Sempra Energy, a Fortune 500 energy services holding company based in San Diego.