SAN DIEGO, July 12, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) filed late Friday the first annual update to its long-term resource plan to continue supplying safe and reliable power to its customers. The plan calls for accelerated purchases of renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, a new transmission line in the 2010 time frame, and additional generating plants in subsequent years.
"In its update, SDG&E reiterates its goal of creating a balanced mix of resources, relying first on energy efficiency and demand-response programs, then renewable resources, and then traditional generation," said Robert Resley, resource and strategic planning vice president for SDG&E. "Having adequate transmission to deliver these resources and provide reliability completes the balanced portfolio."
The filing points out that recent approval of new generation resources and SDG&E's aggressive goal to increase the amount of renewable power it delivers to customers will provide San Diego with adequate energy supplies until 2011. At that time, growth in energy needs, coupled with the expiration of long-term energy contracts signed by the state, will require additional generating plants as part of the overall mix of new resources.
"This update calls for us to reach the state's goal of supplying 20 percent of our customers' needs from renewable resources by 2010, rather than the mandated 2017 date," Resley added. Separately, SDG&E has issued a request for offers to supply additional renewable energy resources. Currently, SDG&E has contracts to supply approximately 6 percent of its customers' energy needs with renewable energy by 2010.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to three million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. 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. To learn more, go to www.sdge.com.