NORTH COUNTY --- San Diego Gas and Electric Co. asked the state power commission Thursday to reconsider a ruling that would delay approval of a massive power line project for five months.

The company wants that delay shortened to no longer than one month, and says a longer holdup in the approval of the line will keep the San Diego region from complying with a state mandate to use more renewable power by 2010.

The project at issue is known as Sunrise Powerlink, a proposed 150-mile power line that would run from El Centro through the Anza-Borrego Desert, across Ramona and into parts of San Diego. The line would cost about $1.3 billion.

SDG&E has contended that the project is necessary to handle future power crunches, and would help supply cleaner-burning, renewable power through coinciding "green" energy projects.

Opponents have said the project will scar the backcountry and that the region's power needs can be met through other, smaller projects.

Last month, a commissioner with the California Public Utilities Commission stated that more time is needed to evaluate new information that surfaced about the environmental effects of possible expansion of the line.

Company spokeswoman Jennifer Briscoe said SDG&E maintains that the utility has provided all the information necessary for the approval process to go forward.

"We stand behind the line," Briscoe said Thursday evening. "We feel we've provided complete and accurate information."

If the commission's ruling stands, an environmental report on the project will be delayed to January 2008. It was supposed to be up for approval this month. Briscoe said that if the project is approved under the current timeline, it won't be up and running by the beginning of 2010. That's when power companies could face fines for not meeting higher renewable energy standards, she said.

Environmental activists and other opponents of the line suggested last month that the delay could spell trouble for the project's approval, and said they were happy the commission was taking more time with its decision.