COUNTY TO USE $607,000 TO REDUCE IMPACT OF SHUTOFFS
Generators, batteries earmarked for power backups
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday directed more than $607,000 from the state to specific locations, in an effort to reduce the impacts of power shutoffs that come after utilities de-energize lines when the risk of wildfire is high.
The board earmarked almost $304,000 to install backup generators at the Health Services Complex at 3851 Rosecrans St., which houses a lab for COVID-19 testing. The board also directed nearly $152,000 to place backup generators at three fire stations — San Pasqual, Lake Morena and the Sunshine Summit station on Highway 79.
In addition, just under $152,000 was allocated to the Department of Public Works to replace backup batteries at 54 traffic signals at major intersections in unincorporated areas across the county.
“It’s not just the rural areas that are impacted,” said Supervisor Jim Desmond, referring to a 2019 shutoff that prompted a call from CalTrans about a traffic signal at a major intersection.
“The battery at the traffic signal had died, leaving residents to kind of fend for themselves in the dark on two roads intersecting at 55 mph,” Desmond said. “Additionally this road serves as an emergency evacuation route.”
Utilities in California have increasingly used what are called Public Safety Power Shutoffs, or PSPS, in windy and dry conditions when fire danger is high. Utilities sometimes cut off power to circuits — especially in backcountry areas — to reduce the chances of downed power lines ig
niting wildfires.
San Diego Gas & Electric says it has made efforts to reduce the number of shutoffs, which particularly affect rural residents who often rely on electricity to pump well water on their properties, as well as those dependent on medical devices powered by electricity.
In 2019, Gov. Gavin Newsom launched a program that assigned funding across the state to help reduce the effects of PSPS. In October, San Diego County received
an allocation of $607,328 for the fiscal year 2020-2021.
In a related item, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved developing a plan to address gaps and improve coordination during power shutoffs. The county will work with stakeholders including SDG&E and come back to the board with a report in six months.
“It’s clear additional strategy and planning were needed to address the public safety side of a shutdown,” Desmond said.