History of innovation

Pride in our past, confidence in our future

In 1998, Sempra was formed as a merger of two century-old utilities: Pacific Enterprises and Enova Corporation, the parent companies of Southern California Gas Co. and San Diego Gas & Electric Co. Over the past two decades, Sempra has grown into a diversified, global energy infrastructure company. Since its formation, the company has developed a portfolio of businesses comprised of top-tier utilities and long-term-contracted energy infrastructure assets. To date, the company has contributed more than $260 million to charitable causes and continues to find innovative ways to best serve nearly 40 million consumers worldwide.

25 years and going strong

In a year that marks our 25th anniversary, we’re celebrating our legacy of success and finding inspiration for the next 25 years. Our 2022 annual report is titled 25 Years and Going Strong. Explore the interactive report and find out more about our vision for the future.

As we reflect on our company's history, one of the things we’re most proud of is our willingness to look at the world differently. We continue to find new and better ways to serve our customers through technology and innovation.

Jeffrey Martin, Chairman & CEO


Innovation milestones

1998

2007

2008

2009

2012

2013

2014

2016

2017

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2021

2021

Sempra Energy Building

Sempra founded

Pacific Enterprises and Enova Corporation completed a $6.2 billion merger to create Sempra, an energy services company with one of the largest regulated utility customer bases in the United States.

In 1998, Sempra’s 12,000 employees served approximately 21 million consumers across 27,000 square miles in Southern California. Today, more than 20,000 employees serve more than 40 million consumers worldwide.

Sempra Energy Foundation

Sempra Foundation created

The Sempra Foundation was founded in 2007 as an organization dedicated to helping communities through grants, volunteering and employee giving.

ECA LNG

Energía Costa Azul LNG began commercial operations

In May 2008, Energía Costa Azul in Baja California began commercial operations, making it one of the first LNG receipt terminals on the West Coast. Located about 15 miles north of Ensenada, Mexico, the terminal can process up to one billion cubic feet of natural gas per day.

Cameron LNG

Cameron LNG receipt terminal began commercial operations

In July 2009, the Cameron LNG receipt terminal near Lake Charles, Louisiana, successfully completed performance testing and began commercial operations. Cameron LNG’s first cargo arrived aboard BP’s British Diamond, an LNG carrier bringing supplies from Trinidad.

Sunrise Powerlink

Sunrise Powerlink energized

In June 2012, SDG&E’s Sunrise Powerlink was completed and put into service. The 500,000-volt transmission line is capable of carrying enough power to serve 650,000 homes.

The completion of the nearly $1.9 billion project culminated a five-year-long environmental review and permitting process, and 18 months of construction that encompassed both overhead and underground technology.

ienova initial public offering

IEnova initial public offering completed

In March 2014, Sempra’s Mexican subsidiary, IEnova, successfully executed its initial public offering (IPO). IEnova was one of the first private companies to invest in the energy sector in Mexico, following reforms at the time that opened the market for energy infrastructure development.

IEnova’s assets include pipelines, natural gas distribution, LNG and other liquid fuels infrastructure, as well as wind and solar power generation facilities.

stock price board

Sempra stock reached $100 for the first time

On May 7, 2014, Sempra’s stock price reached $100 for the first time, closing at $100.41. This demonstrates the company’s long-term growth since the company was formed in June 1998 with a stock price of $28.56.

SDG&E EV

SDG&E received CPUC approval for EV Pilot Program

In January 2016, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved SDG&E’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Grid-Integration pilot program to install thousands of EV charging stations at businesses and multi-family communities, including in underserved neighborhoods, throughout San Diego and south Orange counties.

In addition to expanding access to EVs, the pilot features special rates that encourage EV drivers to charge their cars when electricity supply, including renewable energy, is plentiful and energy prices are low.

IEnova's liquid fuels storage facility

IEnova signed first liquid fuels contract

In August 2017, IEnova signed long-term contracts with a subsidiary of Valero Energy Corp. for the storage capacity of the liquid fuels marine terminal to be constructed in Veracruz and two inland storage facilities to be constructed in Puebla and Mexico City. These facilities were IEnova's first venture in Mexico's emerging $10 billion liquids market.

SoCalGas' power-to-gas project

SoCalGas installed nation’s first power-to-gas project

In October 2017, SoCalGas installed the first power-to-gas project in the U.S. at the Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, Colorado.

Power-to-gas technology is a cutting-edge method of storing excess renewable energy. The project is the first of its kind in the United States converting hydrogen generated from excess renewable power into pipeline quality methane for use in homes, businesses and in transportation.

Members of the Oncor team

Acquisition of a majority stake in Oncor completed

Sempra completed its $9.45 billion acquisition of Energy Future Holdings Corp. (EFH), including EFH's approximate 80% indirect ownership interest in Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC. The close of the transaction created a utility holding company with the largest U.S. customer base.

An Oncor team member working on a transmission line

Oncor acquired InfraREIT; Sempra acquired an interest in Sharyland

In May 2019, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC acquired InfraREIT, and Sempra acquired an interest in Sharyland Utilities, LLC, expanding the company’s presence in Texas.

Cameron LNG at night

Cameron LNG began full commercial operations; Energía Costa Azul LNG reached final investment decision

Cameron LNG’s liquefaction export project in Hackberry, Louisiana reached full commercial operations in August 2020, enabling the export of approximately 12 million tonnes per annum of liquefied natural gas.

Also in 2020, Energía Costa Azul’s liquefaction export project (ECA LNG) reached a final investment decision for the project in Baja California, Mexico. This was the only LNG facility in the world to reach final investment decision in 2020 as society grappled with a turbulent global pandemic.

windmills on a wind farm

Announced net-zero GHG emissions aspirations at Sempra, SDG&E and SoCalGas

We aim to have net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. And we published our Sustainable Financing Framework, applicable to Sempra, SDG&E and SoCalGas, which highlights each company’s focus on financing sustainable projects that are aligned with its business and ESG (environmental, social, governance) strategy.

SDG&E team members replace wooden poles with fire-resistant steel ones

SDG&E completed the Cleveland National Forest fire hardening and safety project

In 2021, SDG&E completed its multi-year project to harden its infrastructure in the Cleveland National Forest.

The project replaced more than 2,100 wood poles with fire-resistant steel poles, undergrounded more than 17 miles of transmission and distribution line and replaced 607 miles of conductor and equipment. This enhances the safety and reliability of the electric transmission and distribution system and is part of SDG&E’s extensive wildfire mitigation efforts.

windmills on a wind farm

Formed Sempra Infrastructure

Focused on delivering energy for a better world, Sempra Infrastructure is connecting customers across the globe to cleaner energy technologies and modern infrastructure while advancing new technologies like carbon sequestration and clean hydrogen.

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