Californi's State Fire Agency blamed sparking power lines for the Witch Creek and Rice Canyon fires that ravaged San Diego last month. From the AP:
All three fires are in the service area of San Diego Gas & Electric Co., which serves 3.4 million customers in San Diego and southern Orange counties. The company, a unit of San Diego-based Sempra Energy, says it adhered to regulations in maintaining the low-voltage power lines that caused the fires. "We believe at the time of the fires our power lines were in compliance with all regulations," said spokeswoman Stephanie Donovan. "When we have the kind of extreme conditions we faced here in San Diego at the end of October, it creates a huge hazard for everybody, including the electrical system."
So far two families have filed a suit against SDG&E, saying that power poles were not clear of brush and were not insulated to prevent sparking. And with SDG&E saying they "believe" they were in compliance, well they aren't saying they are "sure" or they "know"...
Monday, November 19, 2007
Uh Oh SDG&E
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
I have worked for the largest power company in the Northwest for nearly thirty years. During that time period I have been made aware of the tremendous costs associated with downed power lines.and the resulting fires. Fires that aside from residential property values also utility company distribution power poles, transformers, and associated distribution hardware. Needless to say power company revenue is impacted when the electric and gas meters no longer register from homes that have been destroyed.
There is a solution! A solution that no one, especially the power companies don't wants to talk about. When wind velocity reaches a certain degree where power lines become endangered from falling trees the power company has the ability to turn off the power to specifically targeted areas by simply turning a switch in their control center. The same switch cam turn the power back on. Prior to restoring power the company has the ability to test the line for falling trees easily and quickly from the same switching stations.
Think about it. What is preferable? For the home to be without power for several hours or to be without power and a home and probably nearly everything you own except the clothes on your back?
For me I rather read the evening paper by candle light and still have a roof over my head in the morning.
( a retired Bonneville Power Administration employee)
Post a Comment