Sempra Energy Unit Should Face $255 Million Fine, Groups Say (1)

Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas utility should pay a $255 million fine for using customer money to undermine California’s clean energy goals, a state consumer watchdog agency and an environmental group said.

The Public Advocates Office of the California Public Utilities Commission and the Sierra Club filed requests for the penalty with state regulators on Thursday, according to a statement. The groups allege Southern California Gas spent years fighting against energy-efficiency standards that would crimp the company’s gas sales. Details of the allegations were filed in a briefing with state regulators.

The groups’ claims are “wrong” and their ...