3photos

Solving problems in the
Wildland-Urban Interface
Joseph W. Mitchell, Ph.D.
Phone: 858 228 0089

Power Lines and Wildfire

Wildfire Mitigation Plans

We proposed and lobbied through the first utility fire plans regulatory requirements as the technical expert for MGRA.  We continue to advocate for comprehensive utility wildfire mitigation plans, including:
 
  • - Continuing opportunity for substantive public and party input into utility fire plans
  • - Mandating wind speed as a key metric related to outages, vegetation incidents, and fires
  • - State-wide standards for all California electric utilities
  • - Training and certification for the new utility wildfire plan Independent Evaluators
 
CPUC 2012 Decision mandating the first wildfire prevention plans (pp. 44)
 
MGRA Wildfire Mitigation Plan filings:

Power Shutoff NEWS 8 Interview

I discuss utility power shutoff and alternatives with David Gottfriedson of San Diego News 8.

https://bit.ly/37tQeOu

MGRA Testimony to the California Public Utilities Commission on San Diego Gas & Electric's Proposed "Sunrise Powerlink" Transmission Line

 

The analysis for MGRA continues, with powerline contributions from the October 2007 fires, an anomalously high number of power line fires in San Diego County, implications of another 230 kV fire in 2007, and some inconsistent SDG&E wind calculations.

Testimony to the California Public Utilities Commission Regarding the Sunrise Powerlink Project

Power Lines and Catastrophic Wild land Fire in Southern California

“Power Lines and Catastrophic Wildland Fire in Southern California” Presentation to the Fire & Materials 2009 Conference, San Francisco CA, Jan 26, 2009

PAPER 

PowerPoint Presentation

When to Turn Off the Power? Cost/Benefit Outline for Proactive De-energization

Filed with the CPUC in response to SDG&E’s 2008 application A.08-12-021 to turn off power under Santa Ana conditions, filed 3/27/2009 on behalf of MGRA. Turning off the power increases other types of risk – including fire risk. Benefits of turning off the power during high-wind conditions have to be weighed against costs & risks, which should result in an optimal shut-off threshold.