southern california edison power outages
CrTYOF MEMORANDUM TO:
HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM:
CAROLYNN PETRU, DEPUTY CITY
DATE:
FEBRUARY 21,2012
SUBJECt:
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON POWER OUTAGES
REVIEWED:
CAROLYN LEHR, CITY MANAGER
Staff Coordinator:
Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst
MANAGER~
~
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RECOMMENDATION Authorize the Mayor to sign the attached draft letter to Southern California Edison (SCE) encouraging SCE to implement appropriate measures to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages in Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) and throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION: Electrical power outages and system failures have been a regular occurrence in RPVand throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula in recent years. While the most recent outages in Palos Verdes Estates (PVE) have received more attention due to their length and the number of homes affected, there has been an average of over twenty-six outages in RPV from 2008-2011. RPV outages and repair orders combined to average overfifty incidents a year during the same period. The chart below summarizes these outages and repairs over the last four years: Rancho Palos Verdes Outages and Repair Orders 2008-2011
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42 63 56 53
Not all of these outages have been severe in terms of impact or duration and some have been the result of planned repairs or improvements, but a number have been significant, including an outage in December 2011 that lasted over ten hours. This particular outage
F-1
Southern California Edison Power Outages February 21,2012 Page 2
primarily affected PVE residents, but also impacted adjacent RPV residences as well. The City has received complaints about the inconvenience of outages and their logistical and financial impacts, including spoiled food and damaged electronics. The City is also deeply concerned about the frequency of electrical system failures and accidents on our open space areas. There have been three significant fires in RPVopen space areas since 2005. The 2005 San Clemente Fire was determined by Los Angeles County Fire Department investigators to have been caused by an SCE work crew. The 2009 Portuguese Bend fire was determined to be the result of SCE equipment failure. The official report on the January 9, 2012 Crest Fire which burned approximately fifteen acres in McCarrell Canyon and the Three Sisters Nature Reserve has not yet been released. These fires pose a threat to the lives and property of City residents as well as to the welfare and viability of the City's open space areas. Below is a chart showing the total acreage and the open space acreage burned by each of these fires. Rancho Palos Verdes Open Space Fires 2005-2012
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··::~:::~:~m::::::::lij:f:ned:t:::m:::@::tn::::~::~:A~"i.r':':::I~d~t:::::m
179 180 15
17.5 165 15
SCE representatives made a presentation to PVE on December 13, 2011 about recent electrical power outages and the steps that SCE has taken and plans to take to address this ongoing issue. A number of attendees expressed dismay at the rising number of outages and SCE's apparent lack of responsiveness. SCE Public Affairs Manager Marvin Jackmon stated that these outages occur for a variety of reasons, including adverse weather conditions, cable failures, damage from animals, overloading of capacity, equipment failure and falling trees. Mr. Jackmon, in his presentation to PVE, noted that SCE has spent over $1 0 million since 2008 on Peninsula-wide repairs and upgrades with additional projects slated for 2012 including: • • • • •
Install devices to limit size and duration of outages (fault indicators and fused switches) Relocate customers to adjoining circuit Complete $4 million new circuit project Complete $900,000 in Capital Improvements Preventative Maintenance (Planned Tree Trimming)
In addition, the installation of fault indicators will enable SCE to more reliably and quickly identify outage locations. Fused switches will help isolate outage problems without impacting other customers. Mr. Jackmon concedes that the Peninsula has aging infrastructure and additional upgrades are merited. Forty-five circuits currently provide electricity to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
F-2
Southern California Edison Power Outages February 21,2012 Page 3
Over 60% of those circuits are 4kV or 2.4kV (kilovolt), which is insufficient for the growing power demands of the area. Plans are underway to convert many 4kV circuits to 12kV or 16kV which have greater load capacity. Mr. Jackmon noted that the conversion process is expensive and must be done carefully to avoid potential view obstructions due to the required increased height of the 12kV and 16kV poles. SCE is in the process of finalizing the Peninsula Reliability Project which is meant to address the aging and underperforming Peninsula infrastructure. SCE staff and representatives from the four Peninsula cities are scheduled to meet at the end of February to review the project's status. Mr. Jackmon cautioned that upgrades are very expensive and will cause major service disruptions as they are implemented. Planned outages will occur as improvements are made and unplanned outages will continue to be a reality, although hopefully less frequent. Staff will continue to monitor the project, attend the meetings,' provide input to SCE on behalf of the City and its residents and keep the City Council apprized on its progress. Attached is a draft letter from the City of RPV, under the Mayor's signature, requesting that SCE expedite projects that will improve the electrical power distribution network and reduce the frequency and severity of outages. FISCAL IMPACT
Approval and submittal of the attached letter will not have any discernible fiscal impact. ATTACHMENTS:
Draft City of RPV Letter to Southern California Edison
F-3
February 21,2012 Ms. Lynda L. Ziegler Executive Vice President, Power Delivery Services Southern California Edison P.O. Box 800 Rosemead,CA 91770 RECURRING POWER OUTAGES - CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
Dear Ms. Ziegler: I am writing to you regarding the impact of power outages and electrical system failures on residents of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. While more recent power outages have not been as numerous or severe in Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) as they have been in Palos Verdes Estates (PVE), they continue to be a serious and ongoing source of aggravation and frustration to the City's residents. This is especially true for RPV residents who reside in neighborhoods that are directly adjacent to sections of PVE that have experienced significant and regularly-occurring outages. In addition, the City is greatly concerned about the increasing frequency of wildfires in our open space areas caused by electrical failures and accidents that threaten the lives and property of our residents, not to mention the viability of our native habitat areas. The City Council understands that SCE has spent an estimated $10 million on Peninsula-wide improvements in recent years and that more improvement projects are planned for 2012. However, the reliability and safety of the area's electrical system is an issue of utmost importance to the RPV City Council and our 42,000 residents. The City Council appreciates the complexity and expense required to complete improvement projects such as the installation of fault indicators, fused switches and a $4 million circuit project. We further understand that SCE is close to finalizing the Peninsula Reliability Project which will address the aging and underperforming Peninsula infrastructure. The City Council strongly encourages SCE to prioritize improving the electrical infrastructure of Rancho Palos Verdes and the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula, thereby reducing the number and intensity of outages. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely,
Anthony Misetich Mayor cc:
Ronald L. Litzinger, President, Southern California Edison Marvin Jackmon, Region Manager, Public Affairs Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Carolyn Lehr, Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager
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HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
FROM:
CAROLYNN PETRU, DEPUTY CITY
DATE:
FEBRUARY 21,2012
SUBJECt:
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON POWER OUTAGES
REVIEWED:
CAROLYN LEHR, CITY MANAGER
Staff Coordinator:
Matt Waters, Senior Administrative Analyst
MANAGER~
~
e
RECOMMENDATION Authorize the Mayor to sign the attached draft letter to Southern California Edison (SCE) encouraging SCE to implement appropriate measures to reduce the frequency and duration of power outages in Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) and throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION: Electrical power outages and system failures have been a regular occurrence in RPVand throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula in recent years. While the most recent outages in Palos Verdes Estates (PVE) have received more attention due to their length and the number of homes affected, there has been an average of over twenty-six outages in RPV from 2008-2011. RPV outages and repair orders combined to average overfifty incidents a year during the same period. The chart below summarizes these outages and repairs over the last four years: Rancho Palos Verdes Outages and Repair Orders 2008-2011
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42 63 56 53
Not all of these outages have been severe in terms of impact or duration and some have been the result of planned repairs or improvements, but a number have been significant, including an outage in December 2011 that lasted over ten hours. This particular outage
F-1
Southern California Edison Power Outages February 21,2012 Page 2
primarily affected PVE residents, but also impacted adjacent RPV residences as well. The City has received complaints about the inconvenience of outages and their logistical and financial impacts, including spoiled food and damaged electronics. The City is also deeply concerned about the frequency of electrical system failures and accidents on our open space areas. There have been three significant fires in RPVopen space areas since 2005. The 2005 San Clemente Fire was determined by Los Angeles County Fire Department investigators to have been caused by an SCE work crew. The 2009 Portuguese Bend fire was determined to be the result of SCE equipment failure. The official report on the January 9, 2012 Crest Fire which burned approximately fifteen acres in McCarrell Canyon and the Three Sisters Nature Reserve has not yet been released. These fires pose a threat to the lives and property of City residents as well as to the welfare and viability of the City's open space areas. Below is a chart showing the total acreage and the open space acreage burned by each of these fires. Rancho Palos Verdes Open Space Fires 2005-2012
:i::j:j::::M.~:I!fil::~:j~·:j:ji:ij:::·:i:j;:I!li_i::~_:.:·:::j:·:··
··::~:::~:~m::::::::lij:f:ned:t:::m:::@::tn::::~::~:A~"i.r':':::I~d~t:::::m
179 180 15
17.5 165 15
SCE representatives made a presentation to PVE on December 13, 2011 about recent electrical power outages and the steps that SCE has taken and plans to take to address this ongoing issue. A number of attendees expressed dismay at the rising number of outages and SCE's apparent lack of responsiveness. SCE Public Affairs Manager Marvin Jackmon stated that these outages occur for a variety of reasons, including adverse weather conditions, cable failures, damage from animals, overloading of capacity, equipment failure and falling trees. Mr. Jackmon, in his presentation to PVE, noted that SCE has spent over $1 0 million since 2008 on Peninsula-wide repairs and upgrades with additional projects slated for 2012 including: • • • • •
Install devices to limit size and duration of outages (fault indicators and fused switches) Relocate customers to adjoining circuit Complete $4 million new circuit project Complete $900,000 in Capital Improvements Preventative Maintenance (Planned Tree Trimming)
In addition, the installation of fault indicators will enable SCE to more reliably and quickly identify outage locations. Fused switches will help isolate outage problems without impacting other customers. Mr. Jackmon concedes that the Peninsula has aging infrastructure and additional upgrades are merited. Forty-five circuits currently provide electricity to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
F-2
Southern California Edison Power Outages February 21,2012 Page 3
Over 60% of those circuits are 4kV or 2.4kV (kilovolt), which is insufficient for the growing power demands of the area. Plans are underway to convert many 4kV circuits to 12kV or 16kV which have greater load capacity. Mr. Jackmon noted that the conversion process is expensive and must be done carefully to avoid potential view obstructions due to the required increased height of the 12kV and 16kV poles. SCE is in the process of finalizing the Peninsula Reliability Project which is meant to address the aging and underperforming Peninsula infrastructure. SCE staff and representatives from the four Peninsula cities are scheduled to meet at the end of February to review the project's status. Mr. Jackmon cautioned that upgrades are very expensive and will cause major service disruptions as they are implemented. Planned outages will occur as improvements are made and unplanned outages will continue to be a reality, although hopefully less frequent. Staff will continue to monitor the project, attend the meetings,' provide input to SCE on behalf of the City and its residents and keep the City Council apprized on its progress. Attached is a draft letter from the City of RPV, under the Mayor's signature, requesting that SCE expedite projects that will improve the electrical power distribution network and reduce the frequency and severity of outages. FISCAL IMPACT
Approval and submittal of the attached letter will not have any discernible fiscal impact. ATTACHMENTS:
Draft City of RPV Letter to Southern California Edison
F-3
February 21,2012 Ms. Lynda L. Ziegler Executive Vice President, Power Delivery Services Southern California Edison P.O. Box 800 Rosemead,CA 91770 RECURRING POWER OUTAGES - CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
Dear Ms. Ziegler: I am writing to you regarding the impact of power outages and electrical system failures on residents of the City of Rancho Palos Verdes. While more recent power outages have not been as numerous or severe in Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV) as they have been in Palos Verdes Estates (PVE), they continue to be a serious and ongoing source of aggravation and frustration to the City's residents. This is especially true for RPV residents who reside in neighborhoods that are directly adjacent to sections of PVE that have experienced significant and regularly-occurring outages. In addition, the City is greatly concerned about the increasing frequency of wildfires in our open space areas caused by electrical failures and accidents that threaten the lives and property of our residents, not to mention the viability of our native habitat areas. The City Council understands that SCE has spent an estimated $10 million on Peninsula-wide improvements in recent years and that more improvement projects are planned for 2012. However, the reliability and safety of the area's electrical system is an issue of utmost importance to the RPV City Council and our 42,000 residents. The City Council appreciates the complexity and expense required to complete improvement projects such as the installation of fault indicators, fused switches and a $4 million circuit project. We further understand that SCE is close to finalizing the Peninsula Reliability Project which will address the aging and underperforming Peninsula infrastructure. The City Council strongly encourages SCE to prioritize improving the electrical infrastructure of Rancho Palos Verdes and the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula, thereby reducing the number and intensity of outages. Thank you for your attention to this matter. Sincerely,
Anthony Misetich Mayor cc:
Ronald L. Litzinger, President, Southern California Edison Marvin Jackmon, Region Manager, Public Affairs Rancho Palos Verdes City Council Carolyn Lehr, Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager
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