The report highlights the utility's progress
on its ASPIRE 2045 sustainability strategy
LOS
ANGELES, May 13, 2024 /PRNewswire/
-- Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) released
its stand-alone chapter of parent company Sempra's 2023 Corporate
Sustainability Report today, demonstrating SoCalGas' dedication to
keeping stakeholders informed on the progress of its sustainability
strategy, key milestones, and achievements. SoCalGas' ASPIRE 2045
sustainability strategy aligns with Sempra's sustainable business
strategy to invest in safe and resilient operations, engage people
and communities, and innovate for the future. The report details
SoCalGas' ongoing sustainability efforts that support its aim to
achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in its operations and
delivery of energy by 2045. It also highlights the utility's
efforts to modernize its system infrastructure, support the
continued development of clean fuels, enhance energy access and
affordability, and invest in local communities and its
workforce.
Click here to read the SoCalGas Corporate Sustainability Report
chapter.
"Sustainability is a fundamental part of our business strategy.
The progress in this report represents our next step in an exciting
evolution in serving customers and communities while reducing
greenhouse gas emissions, promoting energy efficiency and
resiliency, and advancing California's climate goals," says Jawaad Malik Chief Strategy and Sustainability
Officer at SoCalGas. "Our ASPIRE 2045 sustainability strategy
focuses on key areas where we can create strong positive benefits
for our customers, employees, and the communities we serve."
2023 report highlights:
- Approximately 39% reduction in methane emissions through
2022[1] surpassing 2025 state goal of 20% and nearing 2030
goal of 40%[2]
- 100% green tariff enrollment for grid-connected company
facilities where local electric utility green tariff program is
available[3]
- 38% alternative fuel vehicle conversion of
over-the-road-fleet, with aim of 100% zero emission over-the-road
fleet vehicles by 2035
- 100% eligible customers enrolled in support program,
enhancing energy access and affordability[4]
- 100% Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) delivered through
SoCalGas compressed natural gas refueling stations
- 10 RNG interconnections supplying renewable gas to
SoCalGas' pipeline network
- 47.3 million therms avoided by customers through energy
efficiency programs – equivalent to the annual gas consumption of
approximately 118,000 homes
- 26% reduction in pipeline excavation damage rate from a
2020 baseline, supporting safety and progressing toward a 2030
target of 40% reduction[5]
- $1.02 billion spent with
diverse suppliers[6] making up 44% of total procurement,
including 152 new diverse firms in 2023, totaling $54 million dollars
"Thanks to SoCalGas' Climate Champions Grant program, our
organization was better equipped to take on ecosystem degradation
in the Santa Monica Mountains and increase biodiversity while
creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged youths with
limited resources," said Deanna
Armbruster, Executive Director at Santa Monica Mountains
Fund. "SoCalGas' sustainability investments continue to play a
vital role in fostering community development, promoting
environmental stewardship, and improving the well-being of in our
local communities."
SoCalGas is a leader among utilities in its sustainability goals
and was among the first and largest natural gas distribution
utilities in the United States to
announce its aim to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by
2045. Additionally, SoCalGas' energy efficiency programs are some
of the largest in the United
States. The utility recently earned the ENERGY STAR "Partner
of the Year Award" by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) for the second consecutive year and was a founding member of
the EPA Natural Gas Star Program in 1993, voluntarily implementing
technologies and practices to reduce methane emissions.
SoCalGas was also recently honored with the top "Business
Transformation Award" from Reuters Events for establishing
transformative sustainability priorities that have the potential to
create impact at scale in their sector and beyond. One such
transformative effort, SoCalGas' [H2] Innovation Experience, a
clean hydrogen microgrid demonstration project, has been named a
World-Changing Idea by Fast Company and was also awarded the
U.S. Green Building Council of L.A.'s Sustainable Innovation
Award.
Learn more about SoCalGas's sustainability efforts at
https://www.socalgas.com/sustainability.
About SoCalGas
Headquartered in Los Angeles,
SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States. SoCalGas aims to deliver
affordable, reliable, and increasingly renewable gas service to
approximately 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000
square miles of Central and Southern
California. We believe gas delivered through our pipelines
plays a key role in California's
clean energy transition by supporting energy system reliability and
resiliency and enabling integration of renewable
resources.
SoCalGas' mission is to build the cleanest, safest and most
innovative energy infrastructure company in America. In support of
that mission, SoCalGas aspires to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas
emissions in its operations and delivery of energy by 2045 and to
replace 20 percent of its traditional natural gas supply to core
customers with renewable natural gas (RNG) by 2030. RNG can be made
from waste created by landfills and wastewater treatment plants.
SoCalGas is also investing in its gas delivery infrastructure while
working to keep bills affordable for customers. SoCalGas is a
subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), an energy infrastructure
company based in San Diego.
For more information visit socalgas.com/newsroom or connect
with SoCalGas on X (formerly Twitter) (@SoCalGas),
Instagram (@SoCalGas) and Facebook.
This press release contains forward-looking statements within
the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about the
future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees.
Future results may differ materially from those expressed or
implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking
statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the
date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update or
revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise.
In this press release, forward-looking statements can be
identified by words such as "believe," "expect," "intend,"
"anticipate," "contemplate," "plan," "estimate," "project,"
"forecast," "envision," "should," "could," "would," "will,"
"confident," "may," "can," "potential," "possible," "proposed," "in
process," "construct," "develop," "opportunity," "preliminary,"
"initiative," "target," "outlook," "optimistic," "poised,"
"positioned," "maintain," "continue," "progress," "advance,"
"goal," "aim," "commit," or similar expressions, or when we discuss
our guidance, priorities, strategy, goals, vision, mission,
opportunities, projections, intentions or
expectations.
Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and
events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any
forward-looking statement include: decisions, investigations,
inquiries, regulations, denials or revocations of permits,
consents, approvals or other authorizations, renewals of
franchises, and other actions, including the failure to honor
contracts and commitments, by the (i) California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC), U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Internal Revenue
Service and other regulatory bodies and (ii) U.S. and states,
counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein where we do
business; the success of business development efforts and
construction projects, including risks related to (i) completing
construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget,
(ii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if
completed, (iii) obtaining third-party consents and approvals and
(iv) third parties honoring their contracts and commitments;
macroeconomic trends or other factors that could change our capital
expenditure plans and their potential impact on rate base or other
growth; litigation, arbitrations and other proceedings, and changes
to laws and regulations, including those related to tax and trade
policy; cybersecurity threats, including by state and
state-sponsored actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our
systems or the systems of third parties with which we conduct
business, including the energy grid or other energy infrastructure;
the availability, uses, sufficiency, and cost of capital resources
and our ability to borrow money on favorable terms and meet our
obligations, including due to (i) actions by credit rating agencies
to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative
outlook, (ii) instability in the capital markets, or (iii) rising
interest rates and inflation; the impact on affordability of our
customer rates and our cost of capital and on our ability to pass
through higher costs to customers due to (i) volatility in
inflation, interest rates and commodity prices and (ii) the cost of
meeting the demand for lower carbon and reliable energy in
California; the impact of climate
and sustainability policies, laws, rules, regulations, trends and
required disclosures, including actions to reduce or eliminate
reliance on natural gas, increased uncertainty in the political or
regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies,
the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets, and uncertainty
related to emerging technologies; weather, natural disasters,
pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism,
information system outages or other events, such as work stoppages,
that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems,
cause the release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to
liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not
be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or insurance or may
impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable
insurance; the availability of natural gas and natural gas storage
capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the pipeline
system or limitations on the withdrawal of natural gas from storage
facilities; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to
predict and beyond our control.
These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the
reports that the company has filed with the U.S. Securities and
Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the
EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov, and
on Sempra's website, www.sempra.com. Investors should not rely
unduly on any forward-looking statements.
Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra
Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC
(Oncor) and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de
C.V. (IEnova) are not the same companies as
the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or
Southern California Gas Company, and Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra
Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities,
Oncor and IEnova are not regulated by the CPUC.
[1] Based on third-party verification under ISO 14064-3:2019
Standard using a 2015 baseline calculation of methane emissions
(leaks and vented emissions) through 2022.
[2] Based on goals established in Senate Bill (SB) 1371
and SB 1383
[3] Reflective of facilities where local electric utility green
tariff program is available, representing approximately 86% of all
grid-connected company facilities.
[4] The California Alternative Rates for Energy (CARE) Program is
available for eligible low-income customers to receive a 20%
discount on their natural gas bill. The California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) sets CARE enrollment rate goals for each
regulated utility, which may vary by year. 2023 figures reflect
enrollment rates of 110% for SoCalGas, calculated based on actual
customer enrollment against an estimated total of income-eligible
customers as determined and defined by the CPUC.
[5] Attaining the 2030 target will require continued program
expansion including hiring additional Damage Prevention Analysts
and implementing improvement initiatives such as the 811 Ambassador
Program.
[6] Reflects the categories subject to the CPUC's
General Order 156
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SOURCE Southern California Gas Company