Edison Files Details On Fire Plan, Will ‘Consider’ But Not Build Underground Lines
Written by 991KBU on February 7, 2019
Southern California Edison has unveiled details of its 582 million dollar plan to harden its overhead poles and wires … against causing fires.
And the plan says Edison will study … but not commit to … undergrounding some of its power lines as a preventative measure.
The 150 page plan was unveiled yesterday … it was required by the state legislature.
Edison plans to cut down tens of thousands of trees in high-risk areas, inspect thousands of miles of power lines and consider the use of preemptive power shutoffs this year.
The company plans to expand use of new … insulated powerlines …. like the ones that were installed in Malibu to replace burned out powerlines in the Woolsey Fire.
But don’t feel bad for Southern California Edison.
They are going to raise your power rates to pay for the $582 million plan … and don’t forget … they are guaranteed a 10 and a half percent profit on that.
Edison doesn’t face the same level of fire liability as Pacific Gas & Electric — whcih also filed its plan yesterday.
PG and E notified the state that it will cut electric power to large cities and suburbs … in the San Francisco Bay Area and Sacramento Valley … if its transmission lines in the Sierra Nevada or the foothills are caught by high winds during fire season.
In the Malibu area … Southern California Edison transmission lines are blamed by victims for starting the Woolsey Fire …. which killed four people and burned nearly 100,000 acres in Malibu and Los Angeles and Ventura counties … last year.
The state investigation make take more than a year to determine the official cause.
