SAN DIEGO, Sept. 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- San Diego Gas
& Electric (SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Co.
(SoCalGas) today jointly asked the California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) for approval of the "Pipeline Safety &
Reliability Project" to construct a 47-mile natural gas pipeline,
which will implement new pipeline safety requirements, as well as
increase the reliability of the clean natural gas the companies
deliver daily to customers.
The proposed pipeline, which is included in SDG&E's
CPUC-approved Pipeline Safety and Enhancement Plan, would replace
the transmission role of an existing pipeline that by law must be
either pressure tested or replaced. The Pipeline Safety &
Reliability Project would build on SDG&E's long history of
safely delivering natural gas to its customers and would be
constructed with state-of-the-art technology, including automatic
shut-off valves, advanced leakage detection and advanced
communication technology. Along with these added safety features,
the pipeline will be tested and inspected in accordance with
SDG&E's pipeline integrity program. SDG&E meets or exceeds
all state and federal pipeline safety regulations for operations
and maintenance and has a rigorous training program for employees,
as well as community and first responder training.
"From hot water and cooking to electric generation and clean
transportation, natural gas is a key part of our daily lives.
In addition to enhancing the safety of the natural gas system in
our community," said Jimmie Cho,
senior vice president of gas operations and system integrity for
SDG&E and SoCalGas, "the Pipeline Safety & Reliability
Project would also bring added reliability by upgrading the
backbone of our system, and provide greater resiliency so we can
continue to meet our customers' changing energy needs."
The San Diego region relies
primarily on a single natural gas transmission pipeline, which
provides approximately 90 percent of SDG&E's natural gas
capacity. The remaining 10 percent is delivered by a smaller
pipeline, which was installed in 1949 and by law must be pressure
tested or replaced. The new pipeline would replace the transmission
function of the 1949 line, minimize dependence on a single pipeline
and modernize the system.
Having a reliable natural gas delivery system is also critical
to achieve the company's and state's sustainability efforts today
and in the future as more intermittent solar and wind power is
incorporated into the local energy mix. Today, one-third of the
electricity SDG&E delivers comes from renewable
resources. Natural gas plays an important role in the
integration of these clean energy sources, and provides the area's
power plants with a consistent, reliable source of fuel to meet
customers' needs.
The proposed natural gas pipeline would begin near the
Riverside County line and continue
south near the Interstate 15 corridor approximately 47 miles and
connect to an existing pipeline on Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS)
Miramar in San Diego County.
After analyzing several possible routes, SDG&E proposed a route
that primarily follows existing streets to minimize cost,
environmental impacts and impact to private properties.
The CPUC will determine the final design, construction, and
route location after a thorough environmental review.
SDG&E has requested CPUC approval in 2017 in order to achieve a
pipeline in-service date of 2020.
Earlier this month, SDG&E hosted four community open houses
along the proposed route to share information about the project.
For more information on the Pipeline Safety & Reliability
Project, please visit www.sdge.com/pipeline-project.
SDG&E and SoCalGas are regulated public utilities that
provide safe and reliable natural gas service to 24.3 million
consumers through 6.6 million meters. The utilities operate an
integrated gas transmission system that spans 24,100 square miles
throughout Southern California.
SDG&E and SoCalGas are committed to creating ways to help
customers save energy and money every day. SDG&E and SoCalGas
are subsidiaries of Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE), a Fortune 500
energy services holding company based in San Diego. Connect with SDG&E's Customer
Contact Center at 800-411-7343, on Twitter (@SDGE) and
Facebook.
Logo -
http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110106/MM26476LOGO
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/natural-gas-pipeline-proposal-to-enhance-system-safety-and-reliability-300152174.html
SOURCE San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E)