August 9, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – SDG&E has called a ‘Reduce Your Use’ event day today due to hotter-than-average temperatures.

While SDG&E has adequate electricity resources to meet the demand, customers can help reduce strain on the electric grid by reducing their electricity use today between 11 a.m. - 6 p.m. By doing so, they will be eligible to earn a bill credit of $0.75 per kilowatt hour saved.

Meeting August 7 in Deerhorn Valley on fire mitigation funds

By Kim Hamilton, Editor, Deerhorn Valley Antler

Outside, protesters object to Powerlink and more power projects planned for region

By Miriam Raftery

July 27, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) – “That snap, crackle and pop is the sound of success,’ SDG&E president and chief financial officer Michael Niggli declared, referring to the noises emanating from high voltage lines at the newly completed Suncrest Substation.

 Atop a former mountaintop blasted away for the project’s construction, Governor Jerry Brown  and former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger joined with energy industry executives to celebrate what they view as a milestone in meeting the state’s ambitious renewable energy goals.

July 25, 2012 (La Mesa) – Patients, some in walkers and wheelchairs, were dismayed to learn that a power outage has forced evacuation of the five-story medical office building #3 at 5565 Grossmont Center Drive.  

A spokesperson at the property management company told ECM that power may not be restored until after 5 p.m. tonight.

By Miriam Raftery

July 19, 2012 (San Diego)  At  9 a.m. today, the San Diego Planning Commission will hold an important vote to determine whether to rezone open space to industrial land in order to allow a proposed natural gas-fired power plant to be built next to Mission Trails Regional Park.

“Green” power would come entirely from rooftop solar and other urban sources--not industrial wind or desert solar

By Miriam Raftery

July 15, 2012 (San Diego’s East County) –What if you didn’t have to buy power from SDG&E, but could purchase electricity from a local energy cooperative instead? 

Suppose the power was generated all from renewable energy--no oil, gas or nuclear?  Better yet, all of that renewable power would come from urban sources such as rooftop and parking lot solar--and you could get incentives to put solar on your home or business.  

Now envision this "green" advantage as a member of the co-op--you could earn credits by selling your excess solar power. 

June 24, 2012 (San Diego) -- The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) this week approved San Diego Gas & Electric's (SDG&E) East County (ECO) Substation Project, a development that involves two electric substations along SDG&E's Southwest Powerlink transmission line.

• Regional Chamber of Commerce paints hopeful picture of economic recovery (Ramona Patch)
• SD Unified bringing back all laid off teachers (Voice of San Diego)
• Switching on SDG&E’s Sunrise Powerlink (UTSanDiego)
• New initiative launches in San Diego to reclaim science’s role in policy decisions (KPBS)
• Helix leader Rani Goyal got $56,000 severance in settlement deal (La Mesa Patch)
• The Starting Line: SDG&E’s Trojan Horse (San Diego Free Press)
• UT CEO’s last media company sold interviews (CityBeat)
• Man fatally stabbed in unincorporated La Mesa (La Mesa Patch)

• California Dems resist Gov. Brown’s welfare plans (San Jose Mercury News)
• California schools facing shorter year (Sacramento Bee)
• Viewpoint: Voters have a right to know how much loopholes are costing state (Sacramento Bee)

By Miriam Raftery

Updated June 21, 2012: The Old Fire is now 100% contained at a cost of approximately $2.3 million

June 20, 2012 (Campo) – The Old Fire has charred 995 acres and is now 90% contained.  One residence burned, as well as a recreational vehicle (RV).  Cause remains under investigation, however electrical and lighting have been ruled out. There are no electrical lines near the origin of the blaze on the Campo Indian Reservation, nor were there any reports of lightning, Cal Fire reports.

 Updated June 20, 2012 to include SDG&E's response

By Miriam Raftery

June 18, 2012 (Alpine) – A transformer fire broke out this afternoon at the site of the new Sunrise Powerlink, where the high voltage line had just been energized, Incident Page Network reports. 

“I can confirm that two transformers are on fire,” said Lori Bledsoe, editor at The Alpine Sun.  The transformers are taking power from the underground portion of the Powerlink and transferring the electricity into overhead lines, she added.

By Susan Brinchman 

June 12, 2012 (El Cajon) 9:35 a.m. – Power remains out in parts of El Cajon following a transformer fire this morning. Heartland Fire & Rescue crews in El Cajon responded to reports of a transformer fire in the 200 block of Lincoln Avenue in El Cajon. As crews arrived, they found not only the transformer fire, but downed power lines and a resulting vehicle fire. 

• Grossmont District deals with layoffs for 2012-13 (UT San Diego)
• Fundraiser for missing hiker search efforts (CBS 8 News)
• DeMaio and Fletcher heat up mayoral debate (UT SanDiego)
• Heated exchange highlights SD Mayoral debate (10 News)
• City attorney threatens to squeeze legal fees out of civic watchdog (CityBeat)
• Controversy, dispute envelop Palomar College construction site at Indian burial ground (OB Rag)
• Group launches effort to recall Sweetwater school trustees (UT San Diego)
• SDG&E avoids shutdown of Powerlink helicopters (UT San Diego)
• Getting to the bottom of city issues (La Mesa Today) 
• El Cajon Nixes Chickens (UT San Diego)
• Council refuses to sign PBID petition (La Mesa Today)

• Measure to repeal death penalty in CA qualifies for ballot (Sacramento Bee)
• Social media password bill advances in state Senate (Sacramento Bee)
• Steinberg to push California for initiative changes (Sacramento Bee)