California Public Utilities Commission

505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102-3298

NEWS RELEASE

CONTACT: Dianne Dienstein May 21, 1997 CPUC - 62

415-703-2423

The California Public Utilities Commission decision-making meeting held today will be continued on Tuesday, May 27 beginning at 10 a.m. to discuss one item - a request by Southern California Gas Company (SoCal Gas) not to put into effect rate increases for two customer groups.

On April 23, the Commission adopted changed rates to take effect June 1. SoCal Gas asks the Commission to authorize delaying the rate increases for agricultural gas engine customers and nonresidential gas air conditioning customers until SoCal Gas can formally ask the Commission to change its April 23 decision granting rate increases for these two customer classes. SoCal Gas proposes that the revenue shortfall resulting from the delay be recorded in the Core Fixed Cost Account.

The other rate increases authorized by the April 23 decision would take effect as scheduled on June 1, even if the Commission grants the SoCal Gas request to delay the rate increases for these two customer classes.

The Commission's continuation meeting on May 27 will be the Auditorium of the State Building, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco.

Notice of this meeting is provided pursuant to Government Code section

11125.3 (b) which requires a state agency to notify the press and public of any item it adds to its meeting agenda, after that agenda has been published, because the item requires immediate action.