SDG&E Power Line Update

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Call in beginning at 9:50AM, Thursday, Sept 24th 

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    If you are busy at that time call in when you can.  

    Hopefully the call in line will still be open well past noon.

 

To listen or make comments not to exceed 2 minutes by phone call:

1-800-857-1917 and enter passcode 9899501

 

Dial *1 to join the queue to speak

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Webcast link:

http://www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/voting_meeting/20200924/

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Sunday, Sept 20, 2020:

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On Thursday, Sept. 10, the CPUC Commissioners voted to table, until Thursday, Sept. 24, SDG&E's request to build new power lines.  

 

This ONLY happened because of all of the residents of San Elijo Hills and Rancho Dorado who called in to voice their concerns Thursday morning.  Unfortunately, many of those who called in never got through to speak and worse yet many were hung up at 12:10 p.m. after waiting for over two hours.  

 

On Thursday, Sept. 24 at 9:30am the Commissioners will take up SDG&E's request again and this time it is more likely they will vote on the request instead of tabling again.  For Thursday we need new callers.  Now that we know the process, those who call will not be hung up on and will get a chance to speak.  We are working on the details, so stay tuned, you will hear more.

 

For now we are asking people to save the date for Thursday, Sept. 24 from ~9:30 a.m. to noon. 

 

For our presentation to the Commissioners on Thursday, Sept 24 we have a two-fold approach:

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1)      Callers who call in early before 10:00 a.m. to help us make our formal fact-based

         presentation.

 

2)      Callers who call in either early before 10:00 a.m. or anytime after 10:00 a.m. to make

         their own personal comment: 

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          - Wildfire experience: evacuations including any ongoing psychological impact.   

          - Property impact: homeowners insurance rates, property valuations

          - Any other personal story related to the power lines: Health, noise, etc.

 

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If you can call in Thursday and would like to help us with that formal presentation, email Robert Pack at packrobert@gmail.com.   

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Thanks to everyone who called in last Thursday, great job! Let's keep the momentum going.

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Friday, September 11, 2020

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The good news is SDG&E's request was not approved by the CPUC Commissioners as part of their consent agenda yesterday morning.   The item was pulled and placed on the regular agenda for Thursday, September 24, 2020.   Not sure yet exactly what this means, but we have another two weeks.   

 

THANK YOU to everyone who called in.  It made all of the difference.   They did not dare approve SDG&E's request based on the public comments.   

 

About 35 of our neighbors were able to get through the system but many more never made it through and were not able to speak.   At 12:10 p.m., almost exactly two hours after the call-in period began the operator said no one else was on hold and the public comment period ended. NOTHING could have been further from the truth.   There were many people who at that moment were sitting on hold.  We know because we began to receive very angry texts from people who had been on hold for two hours only to be hung up on.  We will get to the bottom of this because it was wrong, many people put their lives on hold to voice their opinion and they never got that chance.  Many had to hang up because of the extended wait time. 

 

Will provide an update again when we know more.   

 

Again thank you to everyone who called in.   The personal stories made an impact.

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Thursday, September 10, 2020

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In the news...

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Vote on power line from Escondido to San Marcos postponed two weeks 

- The San Diego Union-Tribune

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https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/story/2020-09-10/cpuc-oks-rejects-modifies-power-line-from-escondido-to-san-marcos?fbclid=IwAR1Dn1-K8mTYc4fyJY-6SC-XYF7SfRIzbqwIrWao17nBKpDj5mYOE1HQOdY

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Wednesday, September 9, 2020

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                Call in to voice your opposition to SDG&E Power Line Project to the

CPUC Commissioners!

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Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.

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To listen or make comments not to exceed 2 minutes by phone call:

1-800-857-1917 and enter passcode 9899501. 

 

You can observe the meeting at: 

http://www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/voting_meeting/20200910/

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See details below for further details on commenting...

 

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Tuesday, September 8, 2020

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Proposed SDG&E power line in North County gets pushback - The San Diego Union-Tribune

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https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/energy-green/story/2020-09-08/sdg-e-power-line-in-san-marcos

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Friday, September 4, 2020

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Next Thursday, September 10, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. the final step in the nearly three-year process of deciding whether to allow SDG&E to build more power lines through our communities will occur.  The proposal is on the CPUC “consent agenda” and without action, it will be approved.

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The ‘good’ news is because of Covid, all meetings are now remote and public comments are taken over the phone.  Each caller has two minutes.  

This is our one and only chance to speak directly to the five Commissioners.  To convince them why an EIR is needed before they approve SDG&E’s request.  

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We imagine several different types of callers, all are very important:

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1)     Short calls (~1 minute) – Generic comments – Asking that an EIR be conducted before approving SDG&E’s request.  Support with reasons such as the need to consider alternatives that DO NOT increase wildfire danger.  Fact: ~80% of the current proposed above-ground 12-mile route runs through Cal Fires highest fire risk zone.  There are other alternatives that are much safer including undergrounding which DOES NOT increase the wildfire risk.  The reason given by SDG&E for not undergrounding is the cost.  

 

2)     Personal stories about how the current power lines have impacted your life – Share a story about your property insurance, property valuation or anything else that has been impacted by the power lines.

 

3)     Personal story about experiences with previous wildfires including evacuations, school closures, work, etc. and how adding more energized power lines will only increase the likelihood of these events happening in the future.  Given there are other alternatives and an agreement by all parties that the proposed above-ground route increases our risk to wildfires, why would safer alternatives not be considered before approving the current proposal?

 

4)     Specific topics that will demonstrate to the Commissioners why the reports they are basing their decision on are incorrect, inadequate, and/or bias.   There are many examples and they will be discussed during the in-person and Zoom meeting being held this weekend. (See below for this information)  

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Public comments start near the beginning of the meeting which is at 10:00 a.m.  Our first speakers will lay out our plan to the Commissioners.

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If you are interested in helping us make this last stand in front of the five Commissioners be as effective as possible, please attend one of the following meetings.  The in-person meeting will respect social distancing so please bring a mask and plan to meet outside.  

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      1)     2165 Coast Ave, on Saturday, September 5 at 4:00 – 4:20 pm

      2)     2165 Coast Ave, on Sunday, September 6 at 4:00 – 4:20 pm

      3)     2165 Coast Ave, on Tuesday, September 8 at 6 – 6:20 pm

      4)     Zoom Meeting – Sunday, September 6 at 6 – 7:00 pm 

      5)     Zoom Meeting – Tuesday, September 8 at 7:30 – 8:30 pm  

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To participate in either Zoom meeting email packrobert@gmail.com.  If you need further information or have questions about next Thursday’s CPUC meeting contact Robert Pack at packrobert@gmail.com or 760-809-3299

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To listen or make comments not to exceed 2 minutes by phone call:

1-800-857-1917 and enter passcode 9899501. 

 

You can observe the meeting at: 

http://www.adminmonitor.com/ca/cpuc/voting_meeting/20200910/

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Sincerely,

 

SDG&E Power line Committee

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Friday, August 21, 2020 

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Dear Neighbors,

 

The judge overseeing SDG&E's request to build new power lines through our community has issued his recommendation in favor of SDG&E.  We are now one step away from construction beginning. The last step in this process requires the five CPUC Commissioners to vote on the judge's recommendation.   

 

Comments are due by Tuesday, August 25 at 5:00 p.m.   

 

To submit:

 

https://apps.cpuc.ca.gov/apex/f?p=401:56:0::NO:RP,57,RIR:P5_PROCEEDING_SELECT:A1711010 

 

Select "Public Comments" along the top .

 

Ask for an EIR and mention any personal stories regarding wildfires including canceled or higher fire insurance, impact on property value and aesthetics, or any other power line related concern.  The website also has a list of issues under the tab "Talking Points".  

 

Please share with your neighbors and on social media. This is our last chance to make our voices heard.    

 

Sincerely,

 

SDG&E Power Line Committee