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SoCalGas Helps Customers Save More Than $106 Million Through Energy Efficiency Programs

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LOS ANGELES, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas), a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), announced today that its energy efficiency programs helped customers save more than $106 million on their utility bills in 2025—reducing energy use by approximately 54 million net therms, enough to serve about 38,000 homes annually1.

“These programs are giving customers more control of their energy use and helping lower their bills,” Andy Carrasco, vice president, communications and regional stakeholder engagement at SoCalGas. “We’re providing simple, practical tools, rebates, and services so families and small businesses across Southern California can save energy and better manage what they spend each month.”

SoCalGas operates more than 70 customer-facing energy efficiency programs that help households and businesses better manage energy use and costs through rebates, direct installation services, property assessments, and financial options. Under the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) cost-effectiveness standard, these programs collectively delivered $1.41 in total customer value for every $1 invested in 2025.

These efforts also helped avoid approximately 286,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions in 2025, or the equivalent of removing more than 66,000 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles from the road for a year1.

Energy efficiency programs are one important way SoCalGas helps customers manage their energy costs today. They also support long-term affordability by reducing overall energy demand and helping limit price volatility during extreme conditions.

As highlighted in The Affordable Way for California, this approach—combining energy efficiency with investments in system reliability and underground storage—helps support customer energy needs and underscores the value of a flexible, resilient energy system.

Between 2021 and 2025, SoCalGas’ energy efficiency programs have helped customers save more than $475 million on their utility bills and reduce energy use by more than 242 million net therms—enough to serve about 172,000 homes annually. These efforts have also helped avoid approximately 1.28 million metric tons of CO2e emissions1.

Learn more about SoCalGas’ energy efficiency programs and ways to save at https://www.socalgas.com/savings. Click to read the full Energy Efficiency Programs 2025 Annual Report.

About SoCalGas

SoCalGas is the largest gas distribution utility in the United States, serving more than 21 million consumers across approximately 24,000 square miles of Central and Southern California. Our mission is: Safe, Reliable, and Affordable energy delivery today. Ready for tomorrow. SoCalGas is a recognized leader in the energy industry and has been named Corporate Member of the Year by the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce for its volunteer leadership in the communities it serves. SoCalGas is a subsidiary of Sempra (NYSE: SRE), a leading U.S. utility growth business. For more information, visit SoCalGas.com/newsroom or connect with SoCalGas on social media @SoCalGas

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about the future, involve risks and uncertainties, and are not guarantees. Future results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this press release. We assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

In this press release, forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “contemplate,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast,” “envision,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “confident,” “may,” “can,” “potential,” “possible,” “proposed,” “in process,” “construct,” “develop,” “opportunity,” “preliminary,” “pro forma,” “strategic,” “initiative,” “target,” “outlook,” “optimistic,” “poised,” “positioned,” “maintain,” “continue,” “progress,” “advance,” “goal,” “aim,” “commit,” or similar expressions, or when we discuss our guidance, priorities, strategies, goals, vision, mission, projections, intentions or expectations.

Factors, among others, that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statement include: decisions, disallowances or denials of cost recovery, audits, investigations, inquiries, ordered studies, regulations, legislative actions, denials or revocations of permits, consents, approvals or other authorizations, renewals of franchises, and other actions, including the failure to honor contracts and commitments, by the (i) California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Internal Revenue Service and other regulatory bodies and (ii) U.S. and states, counties, cities and other jurisdictions therein where we do business; the success of business development efforts and construction projects, including risks related to, as applicable, (i) negotiating pricing and other terms in definitive contracts, (ii) completing construction projects or other transactions on schedule and budget, (iii) realizing anticipated benefits from any of these efforts if completed, (iv) obtaining regulatory and other approvals and (v) third parties honoring their contracts and commitments; changes to our capital expenditure plans and their potential impact on rate base or other growth; changes, due to evolving economic, political and other factors and increasing geopolitical instability as a result of wars or other conflicts in various parts of the world, to (i) trade and other foreign policy, including the imposition of tariffs by the U.S. and foreign countries (and uncertainty related to the implementation and enforceability thereof), and (ii) laws and regulations, including those related to tax; litigation, arbitration, property disputes and other proceedings; cybersecurity threats, including by nation-state actors, of ransomware or other attacks on our systems, the energy grid or our other infrastructure, or the systems of third parties with which we conduct business; the availability, uses, sufficiency, and cost of capital resources and our ability to borrow money or otherwise raise capital on favorable terms and meet our obligations, which can be affected by, among other things, (i) actions by credit rating agencies to downgrade our credit ratings or place those ratings on negative outlook, (ii) instability in the capital markets, and (iii) fluctuating interest rates and inflation; the impact of efforts to increase affordability of U.S. utility customer rates on our ability to obtain cost recovery from applicable regulators, our capital expenditure and other growth plans and our ability to advance statewide policies; the impact on affordability of customer rates, cost of capital and operating margin due to (i) volatility in inflation, interest rates, commodity prices, and tariff rates and (ii) the cost of meeting the demand for lower carbon and reliable energy in California; the impact of climate policies, laws, rules, regulations, trends and required disclosures, including actions to reduce or eliminate reliance on natural gas, increased uncertainty in the political or regulatory environment for California natural gas distribution companies, the risk of nonrecovery for stranded assets, and uncertainty related to emerging technologies; weather, natural disasters, pandemics, accidents, equipment failures, explosions, terrorism, information system outages or other events, such as work stoppages, that disrupt our operations, damage our facilities or systems, cause the release of harmful materials or fires or subject us to liability for damages, fines and penalties, some of which may not be recoverable through regulatory mechanisms or insurance or may impact our ability to obtain satisfactory levels of affordable insurance; the availability of natural gas and natural gas storage and transportation capacity, including disruptions caused by failures in the pipeline and storage systems or limitations on the injection and withdrawal of natural gas from storage facilities; and other uncertainties, some of which are difficult to predict and beyond our control.

These risks and uncertainties are further discussed in the reports that the company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These reports are available through the EDGAR system free-of-charge on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov, and on Sempra’s website, www.sempra.com. Investors should not rely unduly on any forward-looking statements.

Sempra Infrastructure, Sempra Infrastructure Partners, Sempra Texas, Sempra Texas Utilities, Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC (Oncor) and Infraestructura Energética Nova, S.A.P.I. de C.V. (IEnova) are not the same companies as the California utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric Company or Southern California Gas Company, nor are they regulated by the CPUC.

Message funded by ratepayers.

1 Estimates of avoided CO2e emissions from reduced natural gas consumption associated with program participation are calculated in accordance with California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) methodologies, and estimates of equivalent avoided greenhouse gas emissions from gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year and equivalent avoided carbon dioxide emissions from homes’ energy use for one year are converted from [net] therms or CO2e, as applicable, using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies calculator. These figures represent estimates as of a point in time and future changes or updates to the EPA calculator may impact the results.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/socalgas-helps-customers-save-more-than-106-million-through-energy-efficiency-programs-302797292.html

SOURCE Southern California Gas Co.

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vivo Robotics Team Wins ICRA 2026 AGIBOT World Challenge Reasoning to Action Track

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With top performance across two global challenges at ICRA 2026, vivo demonstrates the robustness and transferability of its robotics capabilities in real-world environments.

SHENZHEN, China, June 11, 2026  /PRNewswire/ — vivo is proud to announce that the company’s PrismBot robotics team won the Reasoning to Action Track at the ICRA 2026 AGIBOT World Challenge, held recently in Vienna as part of the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation, a leading international robotics conference.

The vivo robotics team secured first place in the real-robot final with a decisive lead, demonstrating the strength of its technical approach in translating task understanding into action decisions in complex real-world environments. vivo advanced to the top in a highly competitive field that attracted 526 teams from across 27 countries and regions.

The vivo robotics team also received recognition for its strong performance in the Whole Body Control Track, ranking among the top three global teams, further underscoring the company’s robust R&D and deep technical capabilities in embodied intelligence.

These results reflect vivo’s broader strategy to build a perception system based on its imaging technologies and develop an AI-powered robot “brain” to help bring intelligent capabilities into the physical world, as outlined by Hu Baishan, President and COO at vivo, President of vivo Central Research Institute at the Boao Forum for Asia 2026.

Integrated Intelligence and Execution Drive vivo’s Reasoning to Action Track Win

The AGIBOT World Challenge, held as part of ICRA 2026, is one of the most demanding international competitions in embodied intelligence. The competition sets a high technical threshold, emphasizes real-world deployment, and uses rigorous real-robot testing to evaluate the performance of participating systems.

Its main competition, the Reasoning to Action Track, focuses on a core challenge in embodied intelligence: translating task understanding into action decisions. The track combines online simulation evaluation with offline real-robot testing in Vienna, with scoring based on task completion rates in real environments, long-horizon stability, and generalization across complex scenarios.

This innovative competition format moves beyond the industry’s reliance on simulation data alone, focusing on bridging the gap between simulation and real-world deployment. Participating models must independently complete intent understanding, task decomposition, sub-goal sequencing, and exception recovery in real environments and then reliably translate the full decision-making process into physical execution through a robotic arm.

To address complex long-horizon tasks and real-world environmental interference, the vivo robotics team developed a training and inference framework centered on keyframe optimization and contrastive learning. Keyframe loss weighting helps the model learn critical action points more effectively, while contrastive learning significantly reduces the semantic gap between text-based instructions and physical action execution.

Top-Three Finish in Whole Body Control Track Validates the Transferability of vivo’s Technical Approach

In the Whole Body Control Track held alongside ICRA 2026, robots were required to autonomously pick up specified products in a realistic supermarket scenario and accurately place them into a shopping cart. The track addresses real challenges in retail environments, including diverse product categories, changing spatial layouts, complex semantic understanding, instruction following, and action generalization.

The vivo robotics team secured a top-three placement by successfully applying the same reasoning to action-centered technical system to the whole-body control scenario, using keyframe loss weighting to improve grasping accuracy and contrastive learning to better identify grasping directions.

The result further validates the transferability and engineering robustness of vivo’s technical approach across different task types.

Defining the Next Generation of Smart Devices, Starting from the Home Environment

Competitions are a valuable testbed for technology and offer a glimpse into the next wave of innovation. Looking ahead to the evolution of smart devices over the next decade, vivo believes robots will become another important gateway for personal and household use after smartphones.

vivo has chosen the home as a starting point for its robotics research and development because home environments place high demands on long-horizon tasks, dual-arm collaboration, fine manipulation, reasoning, and decision-making. These capabilities closely align with those tested at ICRA 2026.

Focusing on home scenarios, the vivo robotics team is moving from teleoperation toward autonomous intelligence, gradually improving the executability and scalable validation of complex tasks. Building on its experience in device systems, imaging capabilities, and global product development, vivo is developing a robotics capability system that combines hardware and software and continues to evolve over time.

The ICRA 2026 awards mark an important milestone in vivo’s long-term work in robotics. The next challenge is to bring embodied intelligence into everyday home environments. vivo will continue to invest in this field as it explores the next generation of smart devices and creates better user experiences through meaningful innovation.

(END)

About vivo

vivo is a technology company that creates great products based on a user-oriented value, with smart devices and intelligent services as its core. The company aims to build a bridge between humans and the digital world. Through unique creativity, vivo provides users with an increasingly convenient mobile and digital life. Following the company’s core values, which include Benfen*, user-orientation, design-driven value, continuous learning, and team spirit, vivo has implemented a sustainable development strategy with the vision of developing into a healthier, more sustainable world-class corporation.

While bringing together and developing the best local talents to deliver excellence, vivo is supported by a network of R&D centers in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Nanjing, Beijing, Hangzhou, Shanghai, Xi’an and more cities, focusing on the development of state-of-the-art consumer technologies, including 5G, artificial intelligence, industrial design, imaging system and other up-and-coming technologies. vivo has also set up an intelligent manufacturing network (including those authorized by vivo), with an annual production capacity of nearly 200 million smartphones. As of now, vivo has branched out its sales network across more than 60 countries and regions and is loved by more than 500 million users worldwide.

*”Benfen” is a term describing the attitude on doing the right things and doing things right – which is the ideal description of vivo’s mission to create value for society.

Stay informed of the latest vivo news at https://www.vivo.com/en/about-vivo/news 

 

SOURCE vivo

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In HelloNation, HVAC Expert Reid Sittler of Quality Heating and Cooling Explains Why Air Conditioner Performance Declines During Humid Akron Summers

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The article examines how humidity, airflow restrictions, and dirty coils affect cooling efficiency and indoor comfort.

AKRON, Ohio, June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Why does air conditioner performance often decline during humid Akron summers? HelloNation has published a piece that answers this question by examining how high humidity, airflow restrictions, and coil cleanliness affect cooling performance and comfort.

The HelloNation article explains that humid Akron summers place additional demands on air conditioning systems, as they must cool the air while also removing moisture. This dual responsibility requires more energy and can cause systems to run longer than homeowners expect, even when equipment is functioning properly.

According to the article, high humidity makes indoor air feel warmer because moisture retains heat. As humidity levels increase, cooling systems often need to run for longer periods to reach the thermostat setting. The article notes that this can result in uneven cooling, with some areas of a home feeling comfortable while others remain warm or sticky.

A major focus of the article is the importance of airflow during humid weather. Proper airflow across indoor and outdoor coils allows an air conditioner to remove heat and moisture efficiently. When airflow becomes restricted, both cooling performance and humidity control can suffer.

The article highlights dirty condenser coils as one of the most overlooked causes of reduced air conditioner performance. Outdoor condenser coils release heat from the refrigerant, but dirt, leaves, dust, grass clippings, and seasonal debris can accumulate on their surfaces. The article explains that this buildup restricts airflow, making it more difficult for the system to transfer heat effectively. As a result, the air conditioner may run longer while delivering less cooling.

The article also discusses the importance of evaporator coil cleaning. Indoor evaporator coils can collect dust, mildew, and other contaminants that interfere with airflow and heat absorption. When airflow across the evaporator coil becomes restricted, the system cannot remove heat and moisture as effectively. The article notes that this can leave homeowners feeling uncomfortable even when indoor temperatures appear to be within the desired range.

Another factor addressed in the article is airflow restriction caused by dirty air filters. Reduced airflow limits the movement of conditioned air throughout the home and can prevent critical system components from operating efficiently. During humid Akron summers, these restrictions often become more noticeable because the cooling system is already working harder to manage moisture levels.

The HelloNation article also explains that low refrigerant can contribute to performance issues. Refrigerant transfers heat during the cooling process, and low levels reduce the system’s ability to cool effectively. During periods of high humidity, refrigerant-related problems can become increasingly apparent as system demand rises.

While system sizing can influence overall performance, the article emphasizes that many humidity-related comfort complaints stem from airflow and maintenance concerns. Even a properly sized system may struggle if condenser coils are dirty, evaporator coils require cleaning, or airflow is restricted.

The article notes that HVAC professionals, including those at Quality Heating and Cooling in Akron, Ohio, frequently observe dirty coils and airflow restrictions among the most common causes of humidity-related cooling problems. Regular maintenance, including condenser coil cleaning, evaporator coil cleaning, air filter replacement, refrigerant checks, and airflow inspections, can help improve efficiency and support better humidity control throughout the summer months.

The article concludes that understanding the relationship between humidity, airflow, and system maintenance helps homeowners make informed decisions about cooling performance. Addressing coil cleanliness, airflow restriction, and refrigerant issues can improve comfort, reduce unnecessary strain on equipment, and support more efficient operation during Akron’s most humid summer conditions.

Why AC Struggles in Humid Akron Summers features insights from Reid Sittler, an HVAC expert at Quality Heating and Cooling in Akron, Ohio, on HelloNation.

About HelloNation

HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-hellonation-hvac-expert-reid-sittler-of-quality-heating-and-cooling-explains-why-air-conditioner-performance-declines-during-humid-akron-summers-302798109.html

SOURCE HelloNation

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Frost & Sullivan Celebrates 65 Years of Enabling Growth in Times of Transformation

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Global growth advisory firm marks six and a half decades of helping organizations navigate disruption and seize the opportunities of the Intelligence Revolution

SILICON VALLEY, Calif., June 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Frost & Sullivan, the Transformational Growth company, is celebrating its 65th anniversary, marking more than six decades of helping organizations around the world identify, evaluate, and prioritize growth opportunities amid periods of profound industry transformation.

Since its founding in 1961, Frost & Sullivan has partnered with businesses, governments, investors, and industry stakeholders across sectors and geographies to navigate disruption, anticipate market shifts, identify innovative growth opportunities, and develop transformational growth strategies.

Over the years, the company has supported clients in understanding and navigating through the forces transforming industries, from emerging technologies and innovative business models to evolving customer needs and expanding global markets.

“While industries, technologies, and business environments have changed dramatically over the past 65 years, our core mission has remained remarkably consistent: helping clients understand change, identify emerging opportunities, and build strategies for long-term growth,” said David Frigstad, Chairman & CEO of Frost & Sullivan.

“Today, as the Intelligence Revolution reshapes every sector, our role is to help organizations act with confidence and turn disruption into opportunity.”

What began as a pioneering growth consulting firm has evolved into a global organization serving clients across a broad spectrum of industries, including healthcare, mobility, information and communication technologies, energy, security, sustainability, industrial automation, aerospace and defense, chemicals, and financial services.

Throughout its history, Frost & Sullivan has built its reputation on a combination of rigorous research and analytics, visionary thinking and leadership, market and industry expertise, as well as actionable recommendations and strategies designed to help organizations achieve transformational growth. The company’s proprietary methodologies and frameworks have enabled clients to anticipate change, accelerate innovation, and strengthen their competitive position in rapidly evolving markets.

As Frost & Sullivan reflects on its legacy, the company is also focused on the opportunities and challenges ahead. The emergence of artificial intelligence and the “Intelligence Revolution” is transforming industries, business processes, customer engagement models, and competitive dynamics at an unprecedented pace. Organizations today face greater complexity, uncertainty, and opportunity than ever before, creating a heightened need to understand the coming transformation and accelerated implementation of the innovative growth opportunities.

To help clients navigate this new era, Frost & Sullivan continues to evolve alongside the markets it serves. Building on its proprietary Growth Pipeline™ methodology and decades of industry expertise, the company is introducing its new AI-native SaaS platform, the Transformation Engine™, designed to help CEOs and leadership teams navigate the Intelligence Revolution through a prioritized Growth Pipeline of opportunities.

Combining advanced analytics, AI-enabled insights, and Frost & Sullivan’s proven transformational growth frameworks, the Transformation Engine™ empowers organizations to identify, evaluate, prioritize, and implement the growth opportunities that will drive customers to achieve transformational growth.

“Our clients are operating in an environment defined by constant change,” added Frigstad. “The organizations that succeed will be those that embrace transformation proactively. We remain committed to helping our clients turn intelligence into action, prioritize growth opportunities, and transform disruption into sustainable growth.”

As Frost & Sullivan celebrates this milestone anniversary, the company recognizes the trust and partnership of its clients, the contributions of its colleagues past and present, and the global ecosystem of innovators, leaders, and organizations that have been part of its journey.

With 65 years of experience helping clients navigate transformation, Frost & Sullivan remains focused on its purpose: empowering organizations to achieve sustainable growth and succeed in an increasingly dynamic world.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Transformational Growth Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation, and leadership. The company’s Growth Pipeline as a Service along with Transformation Engine™ provides the CEO’s Growth Team with transformational growth strategies and best-practice models to drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth opportunities. For over 65 years, Frost & Sullivan has partnered with investors, corporate leaders, and governments to identify, prioritize, and implement transformational growth strategies.

Is your organization ready to navigate the Intelligence Revolution and turn disruption into growth? Your Transformational Growth Journey Starts Here: Schedule Your Growth Pipeline Dialog™ with the Frost & Sullivan team.

Contact:
Kristina Menzefricke
Marketing & Communications
Global Customer Experience, Frost & Sullivan
kristina.menzefricke@frost.com

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/frost–sullivan-celebrates-65-years-of-enabling-growth-in-times-of-transformation-302797989.html

SOURCE Frost & Sullivan

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