California Grocers Association Members In San Diego Continue Emergency Energy Conservation Program.

Business/Food & Wine Editors

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 6, 2000

California Grocers Association (CGA) members in San Diego will continue their energy conservation efforts as legislation to ease the burden of local ratepayers is passed into law.

Assembly Bill 265, authored by Assemblyperson Susan Davis (D-San Diego) and Sen. Deirdre Alpert (D-Coronado) and signed into law today will stabilize the price of electricity for consumers and small businesses in San Diego at 6.5 cents per kilowatt-hour.

"The signing of AB 265 will bring relief to consumers and small businesses, and we applaud the Governor and the Legislature for their efforts," said CGA President Peter Larkin. "Our members will continue their role in easing the electricity rate burden on consumers by continuing the association's Emergency Energy Conservation Program."

Since mid-August, CGA members statewide have been participating in a voluntary conservation program that calls for a 10 percent reduction in energy consumption when a Stage I alert is issued by the California Independent System Operator.

Due to the severe electricity rate increases in San Diego, CGA members there have reduced their power consumption by up to 10 percent, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Larkin emphasized that while consumers are noticing some changes when entering a supermarket -- most notably a dimming of lights -- product integrity and food safety are not compromised in any way. "Food safety continues to be the No. 1 concern of every retailer," Larkin said.

To find out more regarding CGA's Emergency Energy Conservation Program, log on to CGA's website at: www.cagrocers.com and click on the energy icon.

The California Grocers Association is a non-profit, statewide trade association representing the food industry since 1898. CGA represents approximately 1,000 retail members operating over 4,000 food stores in California and Nevada, and approximately 400 grocery supplier companies. Retail membership includes chain and independent supermarkets, convenience stores and mass merchandisers. The association is recognized as the industry leader in the areas of government and industry relations, public relations, education and communications. CGA maintains its headquarters in Sacramento with a satellite office in Long Beach.