SAN DIEGO, April 28, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) has energized its new Sampson substation, located south of Downtown San Diego in the Barrio Logan Community, strengthening its energy-delivery system for homes, schools and businesses in the area.
The Sampson substation replaces an older facility in the same location that was put into service more than 60 years ago and had reached the end of its useful service life. The substation provides electric power to the Barrio Logan Community and surrounding areas.
"We are working hard to improve the reliability of our energy system for our customers," said David L. Geier, vice president, electric transmission and distribution for SDG&E. "I am also pleased this project was completed safely, on time and within budget by a dedicated team of SDG&E employees."
The facility will ensure reliable power flows to the company's current and future customers in the urban San Diego area, and will require less maintenance than the old substation. Electric power comes into the substation from SDG&E's overhead 69,000-volt transmission-line system. Transmission lines are used to move high-voltage electricity from power plants to neighborhood substations, where the energy is then "stepped down" to lower voltages in the station, and redirected to homes and businesses.
By applying innovative substation design and construction techniques over a three-year period, work crews built a conventional-technology substation on a nearly one-acre lot of existing SDG&E property -- about one-third of the land typically required.
In the coming years, SDG&E expects to add about 22,000 new customers a year throughout its service territory, which requires new power lines and related equipment, including substations, according to Geier. The upgrading of existing equipment must occur while SDG&E accommodates significant customer growth and redevelopment efforts.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.3 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters. The company's service territory encompasses 4,100 square miles 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.