Sempra

Sempra
Company type	Public
Industry	Energy (Electricity and Natural Gas)
Founded	1998
Headquarters	San Diego, United States
Key people	Jeffrey Martin (Chairman and CEO)
Products	Electric and natural gas infrastructure services
Number of employees	20,000+ (2023)
Website	sempra.com

Sempra is a prominent North American public utility holding company based in San Diego, California. It stands as one of the largest utility holding firms in the United States, catering to close to 40 million customers. The company concentrates on electric and natural gas infrastructure through its subsidiaries, which include Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE) in Southern California; Oncor Electric Delivery Company in Texas; as well as Sempra Infrastructure operating in both California and Texas.

By 2023, Sempra reported total assets exceeding $87.2 billion and employed a workforce of over 20,000 individuals. The company’s leadership is headed by chairman and CEO Jeffrey Martin, who assumed the position in May 2018.

Ranked among the world’s leading energy corporations, Sempra holds the #246 spot on the 2024 Fortune 500 list and is positioned at #366 on the 2024 Forbes Global 2000. In 2024, Fortune recognized Sempra as one of the World's Most Admired Companies for the fourteenth year running. Furthermore, Newsweek honored the company as one of America's Most Responsible Companies for the sixth consecutive year.

1998–2018

Sempra, initially known as Sempra Energy, was created in 1998 through the merger of Pacific Enterprises, based in Los Angeles and parent to SoCalGas, with Enova Corporation, which owned San Diego Gas & Electric.

In 1999, Sempra expanded its footprint into Latin America by acquiring Chilquinta Energia in Chile and Luz Del Sur in Peru, marking its entry into the emerging energy markets of the region.

By 2003, Sempra Energy Resources had completed several advanced power generation projects across Arizona, California, and New Mexico.

The company encountered legal challenges related to alleged market manipulation during the 2001 California electricity crisis. These lawsuits concluded with settlements amounting to nearly $800 million by 2010, without any admission of fault from Sempra.

In 2007, Sempra launched the Sempra Foundation to promote climate initiatives, economic development, diversity and inclusion, and disaster relief efforts. The foundation has contributed over $50 million and fosters employee participation through matching gift programs.

Texas regulators approved Sempra’s $9.45 billion acquisition of a controlling interest in Oncor Electric Delivery Company in 2018, marking a major strategic move into Texas's energy market.

2019–present

In January 2019, Sempra replaced Pacific Gas and Electric on the Dow Jones Utility Average index.

Between 2018 and 2019, Sempra sold its U.S. renewable energy assets and non-utility natural gas storage holdings for about $2.5 billion to concentrate on transmission and distribution infrastructure within North America.

In March 2019, Sempra and Oncor jointly acquired InfraREIT along with a half ownership stake in Sharyland Utilities—key investments aligned with growth opportunities in Texas’s utility sector.

Sempra exited its South American operations by divesting Luz del Sur in Peru for $3.59 billion in April 2020, followed by selling its Chilean assets for $2.23 billion to State Grid International Development Ltd., a Chinese firm, in June 2020.

The company rebranded itself as Sempra in June 2021 to emphasize its dedication to energy infrastructure development.

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Sempra Infrastructure secured contracts with European partners to supply U.S.-sourced liquefied natural gas (LNG), aiming to lessen Europe’s dependence on Russian gas supplies.

In 2024, Sempra unveiled an unprecedented $48 billion capital investment plan spanning 2023 to 2028 designed to improve safety and reliability while advancing cleaner energy delivery across its primary growth platforms located in California and Texas.

Current

Sempra Infrastructure: Established in 2021 through the integration of Sempra LNG and IEnova, this entity focuses on the development, construction, and investment in energy infrastructure across North America. Its portfolio encompasses liquefied natural gas (LNG), net-zero initiatives, energy networks, and clean power projects. Notable endeavors include the Cameron LNG facility in Louisiana, the Port Arthur LNG project located in Texas, and three proposed LNG export terminals along Mexico’s Pacific Coast: Energía Costa Azul LNG, Vista Pacífico LNG, and Salina Cruz.
Southern California Gas Company: Headquartered in Los Angeles, SoCalGas stands as the largest natural gas distribution utility in the United States, catering to roughly 22 million customers. The company is advancing hydrogen technologies and net-zero strategies, highlighted by its 2022 proposal of Angeles Link, which aims to be the most extensive green hydrogen infrastructure system planned within the country.
San Diego Gas & Electric: SDGE delivers both electricity and natural gas services to an estimated 3.7 million consumers throughout San Diego and southern Orange Counties.
Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC: Based in Dallas, Oncor manages Texas’s most extensive electric transmission and distribution network, serving approximately 13 million customers. Sempra maintains an indirect majority stake of 80%. In 2019, Oncor expanded its operations by acquiring InfraREIT, thereby strengthening its transmission presence across Central, North, and West Texas.

Former

Multiple subsidiaries have been reorganized under Sempra LNG & Midstream and Sempra Renewables:

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power: Controlled over 2,000 megawatts of renewable energy generation capacity while also operating natural gas storage facilities, pipelines, and distribution utilities.
Sempra Generation: Held ownership interests in power plants across five U.S. states and Mexico, including assets suitable for solar and wind power development.
Sempra Pipelines & Storage: Managed natural gas storage sites in Alabama and Louisiana; maintained stakes in energy firms located in Argentina, Chile (Chilquinta Energía), and Peru (Luz del Sur); oversaw extensive pipeline systems throughout Mexico.
Sempra LNG: Developed and operated LNG import terminals such as Energía Costa Azul in Baja California and Cameron LNG in Louisiana.
Sempra Commodities: Engaged in marketing and trading activities involving natural gas, electricity, petroleum products, coal, emissions credits, ethanol, and base metals through a joint venture initiated in 2008. Royal Bank of Scotland divested its share to Noble Americas Gas and Power in 2010.
IEnova: A prominent private developer and operator of energy infrastructure within Mexico.
PXiSE Energy Solutions: A San Diego-based company specializing in advanced power-grid management technologies tailored for renewable energy developers and grid operators; partially owned by Mitsui & Co., it was divested by Sempra in 2021.

Awards and recognition

In 2024, Sempra earned a spot among Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies, while Newsweek acknowledged it as one of America's Most Responsible Companies. Additionally, it was featured on The Wall Street Journal's list of 250 Best-Managed Companies. The organization has received numerous honors for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, including recognition on Bloomberg's Gender Equality Index, Forbes' Best Employers for Diversity list, and Fair360's #1 Top Utilities ranking. Furthermore, Sempra is part of sustainability-oriented stock indexes like the Dow Jones Sustainability Index North America. Its subsidiaries consistently receive awards for excellence in reliability, innovation, and corporate responsibility.

External links