SAN DIEGO, July 21, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today unveiled details of its planned pilot test of Broadband over Power Lines (BPL), a technology that enables information to be transmitted over power lines.
SDG&E plans to test the technology beginning Sept. 1, 2005, and will continue the pilot project for up to a year. The pilot will test a variety of BPL equipment in different geographic and demographic areas. The first phase of the pilot will take place in the 92123 ZIP Code area in the San Diego neighborhood of Kearny Mesa.
"We are excited to be testing this innovative technology," said William L. Reed, senior vice president, SDG&E. "If the technology is compatible with our electric facilities, it may pave the way for a host of utility functions that will benefit customers, including shorter outages."
In the first phase, SDG&E will concentrate on testing the technology's utility applications, including remote control of utility equipment; instant, accurate status reports about grid conditions; and compatibility with Advanced Metering Infrastructure, a technology capable of automating the measurement of customer energy usage.
If BPL is compatible with the SDG&E electric grid, it has the potential to enable broadband Internet service at nearly every electrical outlet.
SDG&E is a regulated public utility that provides safe and reliable energy service to 3.3 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 800,000 natural gas meters in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The utility's area spans 4,100 square miles. Exceptional customer service is a priority of SDG&E as it seeks to enhance the region's quality of life. SDG&E 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.sdge.com.
This press release contains statements that are not historical fact and constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When the company uses words like "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "may," "would," "should" or similar expressions, or when the company discusses its strategy or plans, the company is making forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Future results may differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon various assumptions involving judgments with respect to the future and other risks, including, among others: local, regional, national and international economic, competitive, political, legislative and regulatory conditions and developments; actions by the California Public Utilities Commission, the California State Legislature, the California Department of Water Resources, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and other regulatory bodies in the United States and other countries; capital markets conditions, inflation rates, interest rates and exchange rates; energy and trading markets, including the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices; the availability of natural gas; weather conditions and conservation efforts; war and terrorist attacks; business, regulatory, environmental, and legal decisions and requirements; the status of deregulation of retail natural gas and electricity delivery; the timing and success of business development efforts; the resolution of litigation; and other uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the company. These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are available through the EDGAR system without charge at its Web site, www.sec.gov and on the company's Web site, www.sempra.com.