Please reference SDG&E Application 08-12-021 in your comments.

 

UT Op-Ed April 18, 2009

I testified recently in Alpineto the California Public Utilites Commission hearing to oppose SDG&E's proposal to shut off power to areas in eastern parts of San Diego County during Santa Ana conditions. SDG&E says they want to do this to prevent fires. But the only thing it prevents is removing the responsibility and liability of SDG&E by claiming Rule 14. In December 2008, SDG&E went to the CPUC and asked for a change in Rule 14 to remove them from liability once they turn the power off. What happens when SDG&E turns the power off?
About 60 people told the CPUC what would happen. If the people in the city of San Diego and surrounding coastal cities think that when Santa Ana winds blow, it doesn't really effect them, then I think they are in for a real surprise. The Red Cross said they would have shelters for people to go to when the power goes off.  Where are these shelters? Not in the eastern part of the county, we have no power.
Where will all the elderly and disabled going to go when the winds are blowing and they need power for medical equipment? Not in the back country, we have no power.
Where will all the school children go when the power is shut off? Not in east county, we have no power.
The schools in San Diego's east county are relatively small compared to the schools in coastal cities. They were told by SDG&E to get generators for when they shut off the power. Do you have any idea how big a generator is needed to power a school campus?  Over $100,000 per school. Even if the schools could afford to purchase these generators, they require fuel to run. Fuel pumps need electricity to pump. Just how is this suppose to happen when the power is shut off? The school won't be able to bus the kids home they are responsible to care for. Where will they go? Not to another east county school, certainly. And the school can't call the parents to come get them, they have no power.
And these few scenarios are when the Santa Ana winds are blowing. A fire has not even broken out yet, because not all fires are started by downed power lines. Just ask all the Cedar fire victims from 2003 or the Harris fire of 2007 or the Viejas fire of 2001. The problems with having no power when a fire has started will exponentially go up.
An article in the UT from March 27th, stated that SDG&E's parent company Sempra Energy "expects earnings and dividends to increase next year, in part because it will make more money from its California utilites."  Sempra stated on their website SDG&E's "recorded net income of $339 million in 2008 was up from $283 million in 2007. Looks like SDG&E can afford to maintain and retrofit the power lines in the east county to make them safer during Santa Ana condition. But will they?
If the power is shut down to even the smallest area in the east county, SDG&E, by invoking Rule 14 is no longer liable for damages. So when we can't call (cell towers need power too) out to friends and family to evacuate because we have no power or notify emergency personnel of danger or know if our kids are safe at school or defend our property because we have no water from our wells, then SDG&E will be in for a big surprise as well, Rule 14 or not.