NEWS RELEASE

SDG&E SIGNS NEW CONTRACTS FOR SOLAR, GEOTHERMAL ENERGY

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 13, 2006 – San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) today announced that it has signed new contracts to supply more solar and geothermal power to its customers by 2010. The renewables facilities will be built in Imperial Valley.

The solar contract with Bethel Energy LLC will add nearly 100 megawatts (MW) of renewable electricity to SDG&E’s energy portfolio. Bethel Energy was formed by Len Daniel, owner of LP Daniel Engineers, to develop solar and hybrid solar energy projects.

In addition, SDG&E has signed a contract with Esmeralda Energy Co., to supply 20 MW of geothermal energy. A megawatt is enough to power approximately 650 homes.

“These contracts demonstrate that SDG&E remains committed to its goal of providing 20 percent of its customers’ energy needs from renewable resources like solar and geothermal by 2010,” said Terry Farrelly, vice president of electric and gas procurement. SDG&E now has approximately 16 percent of its customers’ demand under contract to be delivered by 2010.

Bethel Energy LLC’s president, Len Daniel, pioneered the solar thermal industry in 1983 by managing the construction of the first solar thermal plant in Dagget, CA. He was also involved in the engineering, construction and operation of an additional 365 megawatts of solar thermal power through 1991.

“Bethel Energy is excited by the opportunity afforded by SDG&E to rebirth the solar thermal industry in California and to offer its customers clean renewable energy that is free from dependence on foreign oil,” said Daniel of Bethel.

“We look forward to working with SDG&E on our San Felipe Geothermal Project in Imperial County,” said Jack McNamara, president of Esmeralda. “Geothermal energy production, which involves using heat from beneath the earth’s surface to generate electricity and provide heat, is the most prolific power generator of all renewable sources in California. Geothermal is a baseload power source, producing energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”

Esmeralda Energy Co., a Nevada corporation, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Geo-Energy Partners-1983 Ltd., a major geothermal leaseholder. The company is also currently carrying out exploration at its Emigrant Geothermal Project site with the U.S. Department of Energy’s GRED III program.  To learn more, email [email-masked].

San Diego Gas & Electric is a full-service energy utility that currently serves 3.4 million consumers through 1.3 million electric meters and more than 825,000 natural gas meters. The utility's service area spans 4,100 square miles and serves customers in more than 125 communities from Southern Orange County to the Mexican border.  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.