Crews With The Gas Company Work to Restore Service Lost Due to Wildfires

    LOS ANGELES, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- Crews with Southern California Gas
 Company (The Gas Company) are working closely with fire and police authorities
 in the areas affected by the fires in the Southland to turn off natural gas
 service as necessary and to restore service as soon as it is safe to do so.
     Gas service has had to be shut off to at least 613 customers directly
 affected by the wildfires in the City of San Bernardino.  Another
 277 customers have been shut off in the greater Lake Arrowhead communities.
 In the Ventura County area, The Gas Company has shut off an estimated 25 homes
 due to the Piru/Simi/Val Verde wildfires.
     "The Gas Company stands ready to assist its customers affected by this
 week's devastating wildfires," said Edwin A. Guiles, chairman, The Gas
 Company.
     The company is offering special assistance to customers whose homes were
 destroyed in the wildfires.  They will not have to pay for natural gas used
 since their last bill at that address.
     In addition, The Gas Company also announced that it would make a $50,000
 donation to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.
     Qualifying residential customers are encouraged to contact The Gas Company
 toll-free at:  (800) 427-2200.  For other customers facing financial hardship
 as a result of the fires, The Gas Company offers special payment arrangements.
     If the natural gas has been shut off, customers should call (800) 427-2200
 for service and should not try to turn the gas back on themselves.
 
     Gas Safety
     If customers are able to return to their home, they should check in and
 around their home for possible gas leaks.  For protection, a distinctive odor
 is added to natural gas, so leaks are easily detected.
     In the case of a natural gas odor:
      *  Don't panic.  The Gas Company will be there as soon as possible to
         help you.
      *  Don't light a match, candle or cigarette.
 
     If the leak is inside the home:
      *  Get everyone out of the house immediately.
      *  Do not turn electrical appliances or lights on or off.
      *  Do not use any phones in the home.
      *  Call The Gas Company at (800)-427-2200 using a neighbor's phone, a
         cell phone from outside the home, or a pay phone.
 
     If the leak is outside the home:
      *  Call The Gas Company at (800)-427-2200 or the Fire Department
         immediately.
 
     The Gas Company is the nation's largest natural gas distribution utility
 providing safe and reliable energy to 18.9 million consumers through
 5.3 million meters.  The company's service territory encompasses 23,000 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 part of Sempra Energy Utilities, Sempra
 Energy's regulated California utilities.  Sempra Energy (NYSE:   SRE), based in
 San Diego, is a Fortune 500 energy services holding company.
 
 

SOURCE  Southern California Gas Company