Exhibit 5.1
SEMPRA ENERGY
Gary W. Kyle
Chief Corporate Counsel
101 Ash Street
San Diego, CA 92101-3017
Tel: 619.696.4373
Fax: 619.696.4670
November 9, 2000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In my capacity as Chief Corporate Counsel of Sempra Energy, a
California corporation (the "Company"), I have advised the Company
in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (the
"Registration Statement") of the Company filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to 10 million shares
(the "Shares") of the Company's Common Stock reserved for issuance
from time to time pursuant to the Company's Employee Stock
Incentive Plan, (the "Plan").
In so acting, I have examined the Registration Statement and have
also examined and relied as to factual matters upon the
representations and warranties contained in originals, or copies
certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of such
documents, records, certificates and other instruments as in my
judgment are necessary or appropriate to enable me to render the
opinion expressed below. In such examination, I have assumed the
genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents,
certificates and instruments submitted to me as originals and the
conformity with originals of all documents submitted to me as
copies.
The opinion expressed below is limited to the General Corporation
Law of California and the federal law of the United States, and I
do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.
Based upon the foregoing and having regard for such legal
considerations as I have deemed relevant, I am of the opinion that
the Shares have been duly authorized by the Company and, when
issued and delivered by the Company and paid for in accordance with
the terms of the Plan, the Shares will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.
I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as a exhibit to
the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
GARY W. KYLE
Gary W. Kyle
