CCC   PPPPP   U    U    CCC       N    N  EEEEE  W  W  W   SSS
 C   C  P    p  U    U   C   C      NN   N  E      W  W  W  S   S
C       P    P  U    U  C           N N  N  E      W  W  W  S
C       PPPPP   U    U  C           N N  N  EEE    W W W W   SSS
C       P       U    U  C           N  N N  E      WW   WW      S
 C   C  P       U    U   C   C      N   NN  E      W     W  S   S
  CCC   P        UUUU     CCC       N    N  EEEEE  W     W   SSS


CONTACT: Kyle DeVine             September 4, 1996   CPUC - 540
         213-897-4225                             (A.96-06-069)

      CPUC APPROVES INSTALLING EARTHQUAKE SHUT-OFF VALVES
                    FOR SOCAL GAS CUSTOMERS

    The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today
authorized an optional new service for Southern California Gas
Company (SoCal Gas) customers to have earthquake gas shut-off
valves installed on their gas lines.
    With this service, customers may purchase gas shut-off
valves from any vendor (such as hardware or department stores)
and have them installed by SoCal Gas or a qualified contractor.
Both SoCal Gas and the qualified independent contractors are
permitted to install the valves on the utility's side of the
meter.
    The valves must meet standards set by the City of Los
Angeles, even if the customer does not live in the city,
because Los Angeles' standards have stringent requirements for
avoiding false shut-offs.
    SoCal Gas is also authorized to remove the valves or
restore gas service after one has tripped.
    SoCal Gas will charge $72.50, plus a $9 transaction fee, to
retrofit an existing meter with an earthquake shut-off valve.
If the valve is installed the same time a new meter is being
installed, the charge will be $45 plus $9 transaction fee.
Qualified contractors are free to set their own prices for
providing this service.
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