EAST COUNTY ROUND-UP --- MID-MARCH

East County Roundup highlights the best stories about East County issues found in other publications.

SDG&E SAYS ITS EQUIPMENT STARTED 167 FIRES IN 5½ YEARS

Union-Tribune (March 14, 2009) — Nearly 170 fires have been started by San Diego Gas & Electric Co. power lines or transformers in the past 5½ years, according to a report the utility released yesterday to bolster its proposal to shut off power to some areas during periods of high fire danger.

Of those fires, 13 occurred during strong winds, and a handful became infernos, such as the Witch Creek, Guejito and Rice Canyon fires of 2007, the report says.

The 40-page report is a response to 21 questions posed by the state Public Utilities Commission, which is examining SDG&E's plan.

GROUPS SEEK $2.7 MILLION FOR FIGHTING POWER LINES

North County Times (March 7, 2009) — Opponents of San Diego Gas & Electric Co.'s power line have petitioned the state to compensate them for $2.7 million in costs they say they incurred over three years battling the Sunrise Powerlink ---- costs that would be passed on to utility ratepayers.

The groups were "intervenors" in the Sunrise case under a program that allows opponents to take on a formal role in arguing merits of utility projects before the California Public Utilities Commission, the regulatory body that licenses electric, gas and telephone projects. The state lets intervenors recoup their costs.

SDG&E SET TO PAY AFTER MISSTATING SUNRISE INFO

Union-Tribune (March 7, 2009) — San Diego Gas & Electric Co. agreed yesterday to pay up to $1.1 million to settle accusations that it tried to mislead state regulators about the route of its proposed Sunrise Powerlink.

The company didn't admit lying to regulators, but apologized for what it said was a mistake: failing to include two documents in a public filing describing a presentation to staff members at the state Public Utilities Commission.

CLIMATE CHANGE ACCELERATES WATER HUNT IN US WEST

Reuters (March 10, 2009) — It's hard to visualize a water crisis while driving the lush boulevards of Los Angeles, golfing Arizona's green fairways or watching dancing Las Vegas fountains leap more than 20 stories high.

So look Down Under. A decade into its worst drought in a hundred years Australia is a lesson of what the American West could become.

Bush fires are killing people and obliterating towns. Rice exports collapsed last year and the wheat crop was halved two years running. Water rationing is part of daily life.

"Think of that as California's future," said Heather Cooley of California water think tank the Pacific Institute.

SD MAYOR SEEKS TIGHTER RULES ON ABANDONED HOMES

Recommendations aim to reduce blight

Union-Tribune (March 11, 2009) — San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said yesterday that he is taking new steps to prevent home foreclosures and preserve neighborhoods by reducing blight from abandoned dwellings.
Sanders unveiled recommendations from an advisory panel to tighten regulations governing the maintenance of foreclosed homes. He also announced the creation of a Housing Commission Web site to help people facing foreclosure.

The mayor also noted that the city will use $9.4 million in federal neighborhood stabilization funds to finance the purchase of foreclosed homes by first-time buyers and to buy, rehabilitate and rent out units in areas hard-hit by home loan failures.