August 10, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – San Diego Police report today that the body of Brent MacNab has been found near his Jeep Wrangler, which was located 300 feet down a canyon in Cleveland National Forest.  California Highway Patrol made the discovery on  July 30, after responding to a report of a vehicle in the canyon at Sutherland Dam Road and Sutherland Drive, between San Pasqual and Julian.

Energia Sierra Juarez Substation and Cross-Border Transmission Lines Also Approved in East County

By Miriam Raftery

“This will impede firefighting efforts to a frightening degree…a wind-drive fire is not going to stay in the backcountry. We must not roll the dice…There are other, safer alternatives….I also have serious problems about an energy policy that depends on the stability of Mexico.” –Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who voted against both projects

“I’m opposed to green energy…I don’t think the Department of Energy should be putting subsidies in this….but the state has mandated renewable and we have to comply.” – Supevisor Bill Horn, who voted for both projects

August 9, 2012 (San Diego) – The irony was enormous. San Diego’s Board of Supervisors yesterday spent much of the morning debating whether cell phone towers five feet taller than current ones would mar community character on Mount Helix.  In the afternoon,  three of the five Supervisors then threw county height limits to the winds—voting to approve 500-foot-tall industrial wind turbines in scenic McCain Valley over the objections of numerous backcountry residents.

By a 4-0 vote, Supervisors also approved a power substation and cross-border transmission lines designed to bring power up from the massive Energia Sierra Juarez wind project proposed in Mexico.

Six SDSU alumni are part of the Mars Science Laboratory team that landed the Mars Rover "Curiosity" on the planet.

By Gina Jacobs
 
August 9, 2012 (San Diego)--At approximately 10:31 p.m. PDT on Sunday, Aug. 5, the Mars Rover “Curiosity” touched down on Mars where it began a long-term exploration mission of the red planet.

August 9, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E has called a ‘Reduce Your Use’ event day today due to hotter-than-average temperatures.

While SDG&E has adequate electricity resources to meet the demand, customers can help reduce strain on the electric grid by reducing their electricity use today between 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. By doing so, they will be eligible to earn a bill credit of $0.75 per kilowatt hour saved.

DRA Says SDG&E’s cost of capital request is out of line with today’s market and unfair to customers

August 7, 2012 (San Francisco) – The Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA), the independent consumer advocate within the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), on Monday presented evidence in the CPUC’s proceeding on Cost of Capital. DRA found that San Diego Gas & Electric Company’s (SDG&E) request for an 11.0% Return on Equity far exceeds both the company’s revenue needs and market standards.

DRA recommends that the appropriate Return on Equity (“ROE,” or the revenue that shareholders can expect to earn on their investment) should be 8.5%, which would result in a $50 million annual savings to SDG&E’s customers. [See Cost of Capital Comparison Chart]

August 6, 2012 (La Mesa)—A 12-year-old boy shot his sister in the shoulder in what police believe is an accidental shooting  La Mesa Police responded to a 911 call from the boy at 9:44 a.m. today at the family’s home in the 8800 block of Jefferson Avenue in La Mesa.

August 6, 2012 (Santee)--A mountain lion has been reported in the 10700 block of Princess Arlene, a residential neighborhood in Santee.  Incident Page Network indicates that San Diego Sheriff and animal control officers are conducting a search of the area.

A mountain lion was also spotted days ago in an Alpine residential neighborhood.  Mountain lions are native to our region, though the normally shy animals are rarely seen.  Shooting a mountain lion is illegal in California, except in cases where a permit is obtained such as to address livestock predation.  Violators have faced stiff penalties.

August 2, 2012 (La Mesa) – The Board of Directors of Helix Water District will conduct a Public Hearing on proposed Water Rates August 15 at 6:00 p.m. at the Helix Water District Administration Office, 7811 University Avenue, La Mesa.  View the proposed water rate hikes here.

August 2, 2012 (El Cajon ) – The public is encouraged to attend a meeting hosted by the ECPAC Foundation on August 13 at 6 p.m. at the Palms Restaurant and Banquet Hall, 143 E.Main Street in El Cajon.

August 2, 2012 (La Mesa)—For the second weekend in a row, La Mesa residents will experience a scheduled power outage, SDG&E has announced. The power will go out at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 4 and is expected to last up to five hours. 

A previous planned outage occurred July 28.  Traffic signals will be affected at University and Lowell Street as well as University Ave. and Parks Avenue.