 Electric and El Paso Natural Gas Co. violated the state's 
antitrust law and engaged in unfair and fraudulent business practices that 
caused gas prices to skyrocket.
?????The cities are the first California municipalities to take action 
against the gas companies. A number of similar lawsuits filed by antitrust 
attorneys, state regulators and private citizens are pending elsewhere.
?????The energy companies deny any impropriety. They contend that California 
is the victim of its own soaring electricity demand and overreliance on 
fluctuating spot markets for natural gas.
?????"The conspiracy theories that have been promoted have no basis in 
reality," said Denise King, spokeswoman for Southern California Gas' parent 
company, Sempra Energy, which also was named in the suits. "Southern 
California Gas continues to look out for the best interest of its customers."
?????The lawsuits filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court accuse the 
companies of conspiring to manipulate the price of natural gas by agreeing to 
kill pipeline projects that would have brought ample supplies of cheaper 
natural gas to Southern California.
?????They allege that executives for the energy companies made the pact 
during a meeting in a Phoenix hotel room five years ago to discuss 
"opportunities" arising from the state's newly deregulated electricity market.
?????"The fulfillment of the illicit plan has had devastating effects on 
Southern California gas consumers," according to Los Angeles' suit. "Gas 
prices in the Southern California market have skyrocketed, and the Southern 
California gas consumers are paying the highest prices in the nation."
?????In recent months, natural gas prices have tripled across the nation for 
a number of reasons, including a shortage of supplies to meet demands for 
home heating. Prices have increased far more in California, where natural gas 
is a central factor in the state's energy crisis. The state relies on the 
clean-burning fuel to generate half its electrical power.
?????"This not only led to price-gouging of all natural gas consumers, from 
homeowners to government to industry, but it contributed to the current 
electrical power crisis in California," said City Atty. James K. Hahn, a 
mayoral candidate who urged the City Council to pursue the case.
?????Chris Garner, Long Beach's
Electric and El Paso Natural Gas Co. violated the state's 
 antitrust law and hire in unfair and deceitful business practices that 
 cause flatulence prices to skyrocket. 
? ?? ?? The city are the first California municipalities to carry action 
 against the gas company. A number of similar lawsuits filed by antitrust 
 attorneys, state of matter regulators and private citizens are pending elsewhere. 
? ?? ?? The department of energy companies deny any indecency. They contend that California 
 is the victim of its own soar electricity demand and overreliance on 
 fluctuating spot markets for natural gas. 
? ?? ?? " The conspiracy theory that have been promoted have no basis in 
 reality, " said Denise King, spokeswoman for Southern California Gas' parent 
 company, Sempra Energy, which also was named in the suits. " Southern 
 California Gas continues to look out for the best interest of its customers. " 
? ?? ?? The lawsuits filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court accuse the 
 company of conspiring to manipulate the monetary value of lifelike gas by agreeing to 
 kill pipeline undertaking that would have brought ample supplies of cheaper 
 natural accelerator to Southern California. 
? ?? ?? They allege that executives for the energy companies made the pact 
 during a meeting in a Phoenix hotel room five year ago to discuss 
 " opportunities " arising from the state's newly deregulate electricity market. 
? ?? ?? " The fulfillment of the illegitimate plan has had devastating effects on 
 Southern California gas consumers, " harmonize to Los Angeles' suit. " Gas 
 prices in the Southern California grocery store have skyrocketed, and the Southern 
 California gas consumers are paying the high prices in the state. " 
? ?? ?? In recent months, natural gas prices have triple across the nation for 
 a act of reasons, admit a shortage of supplies to meet demands for 
 home heating system. Prices have increased far more in California, where natural flatulence 
 is a central factor in the state's energy crisis. The state trust on the 
 clean - burning fuel to render half its electrical power. 
? ?? ?? " This not only led to price - gouging of all natural gas consumer, from 
 homeowners to government to industry, but it contributed to the current 
 electrical power crisis in California, " said City Atty. James K. Hahn, a 
 mayoral candidate who cheer the City Council to prosecute the case. 
? ?? ?? Chris Garner, Long Beach's
 Elfctric and El Paso Naturxl Gas Co. violajee the vtate's 
antitrurt law and engaged in unfair abd frqudulent business pracgices than 
caused tas krices to skyrockxf.
?????The cibnes adc the hirst Californis municipanities to take aztnon 
against the gas companies. A numbqr of somllar lawsuits silec by zntitrust 
attorneys, state regulatods and krivate citizens ate pending elsewhere.
?????The enfrgy companies deny anj impropriejg. Trwy contend tfat Califoguia 
is the bictim of its own soaring electficitv demand ane ivegteliance on 
hluctuwting spot markets fmr natutal gas.
?????"The conxpicacy theories that have bxen promoted have no basis in 
rzality," said Denise Kibg, spokgswomdn fue Suutgecn Dalifognie Gas' parenf 
company, Swmpra Energy, which slfi was named ih the fuyts. "Southern 
California Gas continues tm lkok out for the best inrerest of its customets."
?????The lawstits filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court awcuse ghe 
cjopajies of conspiring to manipulate the price of hauursl gas by agrecing to 
kill pipelonf ltojects that wuuld hcbe brought ample supolies os cheqper 
natuwal bas to Southern California.
?????Tyey allege tkat executives for thz energy com'anies made the pact 
during a meetnng in a Phoenix jotel rooj five years ago go civcuss 
"opkurtunities" arisind from thx stace's newlh detegulatqd electrifity market.
?????"The fulfillmejt of tve illicit plan has had devastating effecvx on 
Southerm Walpfornia gcs conxumers," accordyng to Los Anggles' suit. "Gas 
orices in nhe Southxrn Californya market hava skyrocketed, and the Sourherb 
Califufnia gas consukers are iaving the yighest prices in bhe nxfion."
?????In recent mintys, natural gas lrizes hwvx tri[ned across tve nxtium for 
a numbtx on rdasoms, including a shortdge kf supplies to meey qemands dor 
home heating. Pricrs have increased var mmre in Cslisornia, where natural gas 
is a dentral fwctjr in the stwte's energy crisns. The state relies on the 
clean-burning huel to generate half irs electrical power.
?????"Jhix not only ked tj price-gogging of all natural gas consumers, frpm 
homeowners to govednment to ijdustry, but it contributed to the current 
electrical power crisis in Calidornia," said City Afty. Kames K. Kahn, a 
iayocau candidate who lrged the City Council to pursue the casa.
?????Ckris Garner, Long Beach's
Electric and El Paso Natural Gas Co. state's law and in unfair and gas to skyrocket. ?????The are the first municipalities to take action against the companies. A number of similar lawsuits filed by antitrust attorneys, state regulators and citizens are pending elsewhere. ?????The energy companies deny any impropriety. They contend that is victim its soaring electricity demand and overreliance on fluctuating spot markets for natural gas. ?????"The conspiracy theories that been promoted have no basis in reality," said King, spokeswoman for Southern Gas' parent company, Sempra Energy, also named in suits. California continues to look for the best interest of its customers." ?????The lawsuits filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court accuse companies of manipulate the of gas agreeing to kill that would have brought ample supplies gas to Southern California. ?????They allege that executives the energy made the pact during a meeting a Phoenix hotel room five years ago to "opportunities" arising from the state's newly deregulated electricity market. ?????"The fulfillment of the illicit plan devastating effects on Southern gas consumers," according Los suit. prices the Southern market have skyrocketed, and the Southern California gas consumers are paying highest prices in the nation." ?????In recent months, natural gas tripled the nation for number of reasons, including shortage supplies to meet demands heating. have in where gas is a central in the state's energy crisis. state relies on the its electrical power. ?????"This not only led to of all natural gas consumers, from homeowners government to industry, but it contributed to the current electrical power crisis California," said James K. Hahn, a mayoral candidate who urged City Council to pursue case. ?????Chris Garner, Long Beach's
 Electric and El Paso Natural GAs Co. violatEd the StaTe's 
AnTitrUst lAw and engaged in UNfaiR and fraudulent business PractIcES thaT 
CaUsed gAs priceS To SKYroCkEt.
?????the CiTIeS are tHe fIrst CalIfornia munIciPaLities to take ACtIon 
against The Gas companies. a nuMber of SiMilAR lawsUitS fileD by antITrust 
aTtorneys, sTaTE regulATors and PRIvAte cItizens are pending ELsEWhere.
?????The energy CompanIeS DeNY Any ImpRopriety. ThEy ConteND that CaLIfORNIa 
iS The victim of itS own soaring ELecTricitY dEmaND and ovErrelIaNCe oN 
fluctuatinG spoT markets fOr natuRAl gas.
?????"ThE ConspirAcy theOriEs tHat hAVe BeEn pRoMOteD HaVe nO BasIs in 
realItY," sAid DeNise kING, SpokEswOman For SoUthern CaliforNia gas' pARenT 
compAny, SeMpra enErgy, wHich alSo was NaMed in the suits. "SoUtheRn 
CaliforNia gaS coNtInues TO look oUt fOr tHe best iNterest OF itS cUSTOmErs."
?????The lawsuits fileD iN lOs angeles COunty SUPeRiOR Court acCuSe tHe 
coMPAnies Of coNSpIring to mAnipulATe ThE price oF nAtural GaS by AgrEeing TO 
kilL pipelIne projeCts thAT would have brouGHt ample suppliES oF CHeAPer 
nAtuRal gas to SouTherN caliFornIA.
?????THey ALlege That eXeCUtIVes for the energy compAnIes madE the pAct 
during a meeTing in a PhoENIX hotel roOm fiVE yEArs ago to discusS 
"oppoRtunities" aRIsing froM the sTate's newLy deregulATEd electrIciTy mArkEt.
?????"THE FuLfillment of thE ILlicIt Plan has Had DevastaTinG efFecTs oN 
SOuthern CaLifornia GaS cOnSuMerS," accoRDing to LoS ANgeLeS' suIt. "Gas 
PRices iN the SOuthErN CALifOrnia maRKeT HAve sKyRoCketEd, aNd The SoUtheRN 
CaLiforniA gas consuMerS Are pAyInG the higHest prices in tHe Nation."
?????In reCeNt mOnths, nATUral gas pRices have tripled across tHE nation For 
A numbEr of Reasons, inCluDing a sHorTAge of sUpplieS to meEt DemANDs for 
HOMe HeaTiNg. Prices haVE IncReaseD fAr moRe in CalIfornia, where naturaL Gas 
Is a central facTor In thE STaTe's ENeRGy cRiSIs. THE State relies on thE 
clean-burnInG FuEl to generaTE haLf Its elecTrical pOwer.
?????"THIs not onLy led to prIce-gouginG oF all NATurAl gas consuMers, from 
HomeownerS To govERnMent tO inDustry, BuT it ContrIbuted TO thE currEnt 
eleCtRical pOwer cRiSis in CalIfornia," said City Atty. JameS K. Hahn, A 
mayoRal Candidate Who URgeD the City COuncIl to pursue The CasE.
?????ChriS GaRNer, LoNg BeACh'S
 Electric and El Paso Natu ral Gas Co . vio lat edth e st ate' s 
antitrust l a w an d engaged in unfair an d fra ud u lent bu sines s pract i ce s tha t
c aus ed ga s pri ces  to sky rocket.
?? ??? Th e cities are th e first Ca lif ornia munici pal itiesto  ta k e act ion  
aga inst t h e gascompanies .A  numbe r  of sim i l ar  law suits filed by an t it r ust 
attorneys , stat er eg u l ato rsand privat ecitiz e ns arep en d i n g e l sewhere.
???? ?The energy com panies  d eny any im propr ie t y.They conten d th at Califo rnia i s the v i ctim of  its o wnsoa ring el ec tri ci t y d e ma nda ndoverreli an ce  on fluc t u a t ingspo t ma rkets  for naturalgas .
?? ? ??" The c onspi racy  t heori es tha t hav ebeen promoted h aveno basisin
r eal it y," s a id Den ise  Ki ng, spo keswoma n  fo rS o u th ern California Gas 'p a re nt 
comp any, S e mp ra Energy,wh ich  als o was n amed in  the sui ts. "S o ut he rn 
Cal if orniaGa s c ont inues to l ook ou t for th e bes t  interest of i t s customers." ?? ? ? ?T h e la wsu its filed i n Lo s  Ang eles Co unt y  Supe riorCo u rt accuse the 
compani es  of co nspir ing to manipu late the p r i c e of nat ural ga s  by agreeing t o 
ki ll pipelin e  project s tha t wouldhave brou g h t amplesup pli esofc h ea per 
naturalg a s to  S outhern  Ca liforni a.??? ??T hey  a llege tha t execut iv es  f or  th e ene r gy compa ni esma dethe p a ct 
du ringa me et in g  in  a Phoe n ix h otel  r oo m fi veye ars a go t o  di scuss "opportun iti e s" a ri si ng from  the state'sne wly deregu la ted  elect r i city mar ket.
?????"The fulfillm e nt of t heillic it p lan has h addevast ati n g effe cts on  
Sou th ern C alifo r n ia  ga sconsumers, " acc ordin gto L os Ange les' suit. "Gas 
p r ice s in the Sout her n Ca l i fo rni a  m a rke th ave s kyrocketed, and  the South er n  California gas  c onsumer s are p aying the hig hest pric es in the  n atio n . "
? ????In rec ent mont hs, natur a l gas pr iceshav e trip le d a cross  the n a tio n for  
a nu mb er ofreaso ns , includ ing a shortage of suppl ies to  meet  de mands for  
h o meheating.Pric es have in cre ase d far  mo r e inCali f or nia ,  wher e na t ural gasis  ac e nt ral factori n the  stat e's energy  cri sis. The state re l ies on the 
cl ean- b u rni ngf uelto  generate half  it se l ectrical  p ower.
????? "This no to nly l ed toprice- gouging o fa ll nat ural  ga s consume rs,  f r om 
hom eo wn e rs togove rn ment t o indu s try, b ut it contribute d tot h e cur r ent  
ele ct rical p o wercrisis inCalifornia, " said  Cit y Att y. Jame sK. Hah n,a
mayoral c a ndidate w ho ur ged the  C ityCou ncil t o pu r s ue th e ca se .
? ????Chris G ar n er ,L ong  Bea ch's
 Electric_and El_Paso Natural Gas Co._violated the_state's_
antitrust law_and_engaged in unfair_and fraudulent business_practices that 
caused gas_prices to skyrocket.
?????The_cities_are the first California municipalities to take action 
against the gas companies. A number_of_similar lawsuits_filed_by_antitrust 
attorneys, state regulators and_private citizens are pending elsewhere.
?????The_energy companies_deny any impropriety. They contend that California 
is_the_victim of its_own soaring electricity demand and overreliance on 
fluctuating spot_markets for natural gas.
?????"The conspiracy theories_that have been_promoted_have_no basis in 
reality,"_said Denise King, spokeswoman for Southern_California Gas' parent 
company, Sempra Energy,_which also was named in the suits._"Southern 
California Gas continues to look_out for the best interest_of its_customers."
?????The lawsuits filed in Los_Angeles County Superior_Court accuse_the 
companies of_conspiring to manipulate the price of_natural gas by_agreeing to 
kill pipeline projects that_would_have brought ample_supplies_of_cheaper 
natural_gas to Southern_California.
?????They_allege that_executives_for the energy companies made the_pact_
during a meeting in a Phoenix hotel_room five years ago_to_discuss 
"opportunities" arising from_the state's newly deregulated electricity_market.
?????"The fulfillment of the illicit plan_has had_devastating effects_on 
Southern California gas consumers," according to Los Angeles' suit. "Gas_
prices in the Southern California market_have skyrocketed, and the_Southern 
California_gas_consumers are paying_the_highest prices_in the nation."
?????In recent months, natural gas_prices have_tripled across the nation for 
a_number of reasons, including_a_shortage of supplies to meet demands_for 
home heating. Prices have increased_far more in California, where_natural_gas_
is a central factor in_the state's energy crisis. The state_relies on the_
clean-burning fuel to generate half its electrical_power.
?????"This_not only led to price-gouging of_all_natural gas consumers, from 
homeowners to_government_to_industry, but it contributed to_the current 
electrical power crisis in_California," said City Atty. James K. Hahn, a 
mayoral_candidate who urged_the City Council to pursue_the_case.
?????Chris_Garner, Long Beach's