LOS ANGELES, June 1, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Southern California Gas Company (The Gas Company) reported today a total of $614 million has been saved by customers enrolled in the money-saving, state-sponsored California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program since its inception 15 years ago. The company also announced new CARE income guidelines, which expand the number of income-qualified customers eligible to receive the 20-percent discount on their natural gas bill.
There are still 415,000 residents in The Gas Company's service area who are financially eligible but have not yet enrolled in the CARE program.
"We are committed to making sure that every eligible customer is enrolled in CARE and benefits from the 20-percent savings on their natural gas bill," said Michelle Mueller, vice president of The Gas Company's customer service program. "We have partnered with community groups throughout our service region to make sure customers who qualify, regardless of where they live, are aware of the CARE program and are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible."
Last year, The Gas Company CARE customers saved, on average, $75 annually with the discounted rate. More than 1 million customers throughout The Gas Company's service area have enrolled in the CARE program.
Eligibility for the CARE program is based on household size and annual income. The new income guidelines announced today are based on the federal poverty levels adopted by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). More customers now qualify for the program.
The new income guidelines effective June 1, 2005, based on pre-tax annual income are as follows:
Number of People Previous Income New Income Guidelines
Per Household Guidelines (Effective June 1, 2005)
1 or 2 $23,000 $24,200
3 $27,000 $28,400
4 $32,500 $34,200
5 $38,000 $40,000
6 $43,500 $45,800
Add $5,800 for each additional household member
The Gas Company customers will receive a CARE application in the July bill offering an opportunity to enroll. To learn more about CARE and to download an application, customers can visit The Gas Company's Web site at www.socalgas.com/residential/assistance/care.
To apply, customers can call The Gas Company's toll-free assistance lines: For English, (800) 427-2200, for Spanish language assistance, (800) 342-4545, for Mandarin language assistance, (800)-427-1429, for Korean language assistance, (800) 427-0471 and, for Vietnamese language assistance, (800) 427-0478.
The Gas Company offers a wide variety of residential programs offering bill-payment assistance, appliance and home improvement rebates, and energy audits to help customers save money and energy.
Additional information on these programs is available from The Gas Company's Web site, www.socalgas.com.
The Gas Company is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 19.5 million consumers through 5.5 million meters. The company's service territory encompasses approximately 20,000 square miles in most of central and Southern California. The Gas Company strives to provide exceptional customer service to enhance the quality of life in the community. 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. To learn more, go to www.socalgas.com.