SDG&E SHUTS OFF POWER IN RURAL AND MOUNTAIN AREAS DUE TO HIGH WINDS, FIRE DANGER

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Update 4:20 p.m. - Winds have subsided and SDG&E has restored power to all but two customers in the Descanso/Green Valley area.

By Miriam Raftery

October 5, 2013 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) has shut down power to 87 customers.  The company’s website states, “An outage has been initiated to protect public safety.”  A red flag alert and high wind warning are in effect.

"I remain extremely concerned that shutting off power jeopardizes the safety of communities and the availability of water for residents and firefighters. SDG&E has the statutory authority to cut off power only if there is an imminent threat to public safety," Supervisor Dianne Jacob posted on her Facebook page.

Two circuits are affected.  The first serves 85 utility customers in Descanso, Green Valley Falls, Cuyamca, Viejas, and Boulder Creek.  The second outage affects 2 customers in the Santa Ysabel/Wynola/Pine Hills area.  Both outages began shortly after 6 a.m. and power restoration is projected for 2 p.m.  Gusts of up to 62 mph have been measured today at Cuyamaca State Park, with 52 mph winds at Buckman Springs.

“We don’t want our lines to become ignition sources,” SDG&E spokesperson Stephanie Donovan told ECM yesterday, when she called to advise of the potential outages.  ECM sent an alert to subscribers of our Viejas Wildfire & Emergency Alerts system.  SDG&E also sent notices in advance to customers in rural areas, Donovan said.

During the 2007 wildfires, SDG&E powerlines were blamed for three blazes including the Witch Creek Fire, fourth worst wildfire in California history. 

Shutting down power proactively  is a controversial practice and Donovan told ECM it has not previously been done.  Some residents, schools and water districts have objected to the proposal in the past, contending it could hamper evacuations, water pumping and access to critical information during a fire.

"If they had strung lines with proper distance and kept pole bases cleared, winds like those today would not be a problem.  Our problem is water...which can't pump without electricity," said Kim Hamilton of Deerhorn Valley, which received warnings of a possible power outage from SDG&E . "We're trying hard to get people to have a landline phone thta isn't cordless, and battery radios.  Lonely and scary when you don't know what's going on."

All lines shut down will be inspected prior to power restoration to assure safety, Donovan told ECM. She added that the utility has made efforts to “harden” its system including replacing numerous wooden poles with metal poles, but with gusts up to 70 miles per hour forecast, flying debris and high winds could cause a fire beyond the utility’s control.


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