SAN DIEGO, Feb. 24, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- The boards of directors of Southern California Gas Company (The Gas Company) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) have declared regular quarterly dividends for the preferred and preference series stock of the companies as follows:
Southern California Gas Company: 6% Preferred Series $0.375 per share 6% Series "A" Preferred $0.375 per share San Diego Gas & Electric: Cumulative Preferred 5% Series $0.25 per share Cumulative Preferred 4.60% Series $0.23 per share Cumulative Preferred 4.50% Series $0.225 per share Cumulative Preferred 4.40% Series $0.22 per share Preference Stock (Cumulative) $1.7625 Series $0.440625 per share Preference Stock (Cumulative) $1.70 Series $0.425 per share Preference Stock (Cumulative) $1.82 Series $0.455 per share
Each of the dividends is payable on April 15, 2004, to shareholders of record on March 22, 2004.
The Gas Company is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 19 million consumers through 5.4 million meters. The company's service territory encompasses 23,000 square miles in most of central and Southern California. 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 789,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The Gas Company and SDG&E are part of Sempra Energy utilities, Sempra Energy's regulated California utilities. Sempra Energy (NYSE:SRE), based in San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company.