California Gas Company Asks State to Probe Its Own Lobbying (1)

In an unprecedented move, Sempra Energy’s Southern California Gas utility is asking state regulators to open an investigation into how the company spends customer money on lobbying and advocacy activities.

SoCalGas wants the California Public Utilities Commission to begin a formal probe because it says there is a “lack of clarity” regarding guidelines for what lobbying expenses can be passed on to customers, according to a July 17 letter sent to the commission.

The request comes as the company’s lobbying activities have undergone increased scrutiny in California, which aims to rid its energy mix of fossil fuels by 2045, ...