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If You Purchased Natural Gas or Electricity for Your Home or Business in California

Your Rights May Be Affected by a Proposed Class Action Settlement

A proposed class action settlement between plaintiffs representing California purchasers and users of natural gas and electricity ("Plaintiffs") and defendants Sempra Energy, a California corporation, Southern California Gas Company, a California Corporation ("SoCalGas"), San Diego Gas & Electric Company, a California corporation ("SDG&E"), Sempra Generation (f/k/a Sempra Energy Resources), a California corporation ("Sempra Generation"), Sempra Energy Trading Corp., a Delaware corporation ("SET"), Sempra Energy Solutions, a California corporation ("SES"), Sempra Energy Power I, a California corporation ("SEP I"), and Sempra Energy Sales LLC, a California Limited Liability Company (collectively referred to as, "Sempra Parties") is pending in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of San Diego.

You may download the Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement that describes your legal rights by clicking here.

Beginning in September 2000, class action lawsuits were filed on behalf of purchasers and users of natural gas and electricity in California against certain Sempra Parties and other defendants. The lawsuits have been coordinated in the Superior Court of the County of San Diego (the "Court"), and given the special title Natural Gas Antitrust Cases I-IV, J.C.C.P. No. 4221, et al. The Honorable J. Richard Haden, who originally presided over the cases, retired in December 2004 and the cases were transferred to the Honorable Ronald S. Prager.

The Plaintiffs allege that the Sempra Parties conspired with El Paso Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates ("El Paso") to, among other things, eliminate competing pipeline projects under development which would have increased supplies of natural gas to Southern California and reduced or averted natural gas shortages and high natural gas and electricity prices experienced throughout California in 2000-2001. In addition, this settlement resolves separate lawsuits against certain Sempra Parties concerning natural gas price reporting and trading activities. The lawsuits sought damages and restitution based on higher energy costs.

If you wish to remain in the settlement class, you need not take any action at this time. However, you will be bound by the rulings of the Court if the settlement is approved. For complete information regarding your rights, please read the Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement.

 

Important Dates
  • Final Approval Hearing - June 8, 2006

    • The Court has scheduled a hearing at 1:30 p.m. on June 8, 2006 in the courtroom of the Honorable J. Ronald S. Prager, Judge of the San Diego County Superior Court, Department 72, located at 330 W. Broadway, San Diego, California 92101, to determine whether the settlement with the Sempra Parties is fair, adequate, and reasonable and should be given final approval. At the same time, the Court will hold a hearing to determine the amount of attorneys' fees and costs to be awarded to the law firms representing the Class. Although you may attend the hearing, you are not required to do so to participate in the settlement.
  • Deadline to Exclude Yourself - April 13, 2006

    • If you are a member of a New Settlement Subclass and not a member of any Existing Subclasses and you do not wish to participate in the settlement or be bound by the Settlement terms, you must submit a request for exclusion, post-marked on or before April 13, 2006 as detailed in the Exclusion Procedures page. For a definition of the Settlement Subclasses, please read the Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement.
  • Deadline to File Notice of Intention to Appear - April 13, 2006

    • If you are a member of the Settlement Class who has not requested to exclude yourself, and you wish to comment in support of, or in opposition to, any aspect of the proposed settlement, and/or you wish to be heard at either hearing, you must file a signed notice of intention to appear with the Clerk of the San Diego Superior Court as detailed in the Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement.