LOS ANGELES - Southern California Gas Co. (The Gas Company) held a Business Energy-Efficiency Expo to help its business customers learn about its expanded rebates and incentives for energy efficiency.

"Energy costs are a tough challenge for businesses, and The Gas Company's energy efficiency programs can help keep those costs under control," said Jack Kyser, senior vice president, Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., who delivered the Expo's keynote address.

"Our energy-efficiency programs offer more for business customers than ever before," said Anne Smith, The Gas Company's senior vice president, customer services. "We have added new programs and expanded existing programs so that all our commercial and industrial customers are eligible. We've also increased the size of some of our key rebates."

The half-day expo featured presentations and breakout sessions covering these programs:

  • The Energy Efficiency Grant Program, which provides up to $300,000 per customer per year for eligible large business customers that complete custom energy-efficiency projects saving at least 250,000 therms of natural gas, enough energy to serve about 500 homes for a year;

  • The Savings By Design Program, which offers design assistance and incentives for integrating energy efficiency into the designs of new buildings and major renovation projects. The incentives can be up to $150,000 per building for eligible owners and up to $50,000 per building for eligible design teams;

  • The Express Efficiency Program, which offers rebates on commercial water heaters, boilers, greenhouse curtains and infrared film, pool heaters, pipe and tank insulation, steam traps, and residential washers for commercial use; and

  • The Commercial Food Service Equipment Program, which offers rebates of up to $750 on energy-efficient pressureless steamers, fryers, combination ovens, convection ovens, and griddles.

    Also at the Expo, The Gas Company announced a new Energy-Efficiency Excellence Awards program to recognize outstanding business achievements in energy efficiency throughout the year.

    "We want our commercial and industrial customers to think of energy efficiency as a critical business issue and to look to The Gas Company for help in finding valuable solutions," Smith said. "Our rebates reduce the initial cost of energy-efficient equipment, and customers save even more through reduced operating expenses year after year."

    For more information on these programs, visit www.socalgas.com/business.

    Publication date: 03/27/2006