LOS ANGELES, April 17, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- More than 400 business leaders attended today's Energy-Efficiency Expo, hosted by Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company), to learn how to claim a share of the company's record $10 million in energy-efficiency rebates and incentives this year.
"We received about $3,000 in rebates from The Gas Company in 2004, about $20,000 in 2005 and more than $27,000 in 2006," said Juliann Rogers, energy manager for Carl's Jr. Restaurants, who attended the expo. "And we're looking for more."
The Gas Company is offering up to $525,000 per business customer this year in rebates and incentives for energy-efficient equipment and process improvements.
"In addition to the rebates and incentives, businesses often save much more through reduced energy costs," said Jack Kyser, senior vice president and chief economist at the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation, who presented the expo's keynote address. "Both returns can present attractive investment opportunities, often with payback periods of two years or less."
"Beyond its obvious cost advantages, energy efficiency offers a variety of benefits for everyone," said Rick Morrow, vice president of customer services for The Gas Company. "It stretches our region's energy supplies, supports our economy and also helps reduces greenhouse gases."
At the Expo, The Gas Company also presented its first Energy-Efficiency Champion award to actor Ed Begley, Jr. for promoting the economic and environmental benefits of energy efficiency.
"I've tried to prove that energy efficiency is not only possible but practical," Begley said about his award. "My investments in energy-efficient appliances and other measures often pay me back many times over."
The half-day conference featured presentations and break-out sessions covering these programs:
* The Express Efficiency Program, which offers up to $200,000 per
customer, per year, for retrofits on a broad range of qualifying
commercial equipment -- including boilers, pipe and tank
insulation, steam traps, residential washers for commercial (non-
coin-op) use, and instantaneous and storage water heaters;
* The Custom Process Improvement and Process Equipment Replacement
Programs, which offer up to $25,000 per customer, per year, for
improving business processes and installing energy-efficient
equipment;
* The Energy-Efficiency Grant Program, which provides up to
$300,000 per customer, per year, on qualifying large energy-
efficient equipment retrofits and/or process redesigns;
* The Food-Service Equipment Rebate Program, which offers up to
$25,000 per account, per year, on qualifying ovens, fryers,
griddles and other commercial cooking equipment; and
* The Savings-By-Design Program, which improves energy efficiency
for customers that design new facilities, expand existing
facilities or change business processes.
Qualifying business customers can take advantage of these programs by visiting www.socalgas.com/energyefficiency, calling (800) GAS-2000 or contacting their account representatives.
The Expo was held in Downey, Calif., at The Gas Company's Energy Resource Center, which offers free energy-efficiency seminars and demonstrations of new commercial food-service equipment.
The Gas Company's energy-efficiency programs for business and residential customers in 2006-08 have a goal of saving about 58 million therms of natural gas -- enough energy to serve about 107,000 homes for a year.
All rebates and incentives are subject to change without notice and will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis as long as funding is available. These programs are funded by California utility customers and administered by The Gas Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.
The Gas Company is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility, providing safe and reliable energy to 20.1 million consumers through 5.6 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 with 2006 revenues of nearly $12 billion. To learn more, go to www.socalgas.com.