SDG&E Shut-Off Proposal Raises Concerns

4/8/2009 - San Diego Union Tribune
by J. Harry Jones - Staff Writer

Fire-weather plan discussed at hearing

ALPINE — The public, at least the majority of the hundreds of people who attended a meeting in the Alpine Community Center last night, think very little of a proposal by SDG&E to cut off power to parts of the county during extreme fire weather.

What was presented by the utility as a “prudent and necessary precaution” to reduce the risk of catastrophic fires was viewed by a number of speakers as simply a way for San Diego Gas & Electric to avoid liability in the future and to avoid making upgrades to existing lines.
The hearing was held before representatives of the state's Public Utilities Commission, which will decide this summer whether the risk of wildfires being started by arcing power lines is greater than problems power shut-offs could cause.

David Geier, the utility's vice president of electric transmission, told the more than 300 people in attendance that SDG&E looks at the plan “as a final defense. . . . The whole goal of the program is to reduce catastrophic fires.”

But many people said losing power would create its own dangers. Children could be stranded at backcountry schools; firefighters and property owners might not have water because pumps couldn't operate; communications systems would be worthless; and people with health problems who rely on electric-powered equipment could be at risk.

Janis Shackelford of Lakeside said the proposal would duplicate conditions that killed 13 people on Muth Valley Road during the first hours of the human-caused 2003 Cedar fire.

The fire had cut power “and the Muth Valley people couldn't see where they were going in the dark and the smoke,” she said. “SDG&E is proposing to create its own natural disaster.”

A second public comment hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. today in Valley Center at Harrah's Rincon Casino and Resort, 33570 Valley Center Road.

Under the proposal, power would be cut to specific areas only when a number of conditions are present. Low humidity and high winds would be the main triggers.

The utility says the shut-offs, which could last up to 72 hours, are needed to prevent power lines from sparking massive wildfires, such as the ones that swept through the county in 2003 and 2007. Investigators have determined that power lines sparked three of the largest 2007 fires.
SDG&E said it was going to start shutting down power last fall but backed off when the PUC said it wanted to review the plan, and water districts, afraid its customer would be left dry without power, sued.

County Supervisor Dianne Jacob told commission members that the proposal is “not worth the gamble” and is causing needless fear and strife.

Others said the proposal may have merit.

“We have to consider any plan that will reduce fire starts,” said San Miguel Fire District Chief Augie Ghio.

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