5-10-22
Introduction
I am pleased to offer the Council a brief update on the PSPS Outage program and ongoing issues with PG&E projects for 2022. The focus remains safety and reliability.
PSPS Outage Program
PG&E will continue to use TechnoSylva, the more advanced fire weather forecasting tool. This should provide realistic PSPS outages and continue to prevent "no-wind" events.
Fire Safe Switch Settings
PG&E will expand this program, setting their existing automatic field switches to allow for maximum fire safety. These sensitive settings reduced power line fires the last 2 years. Any power surge or tree contact will cause an almost instantaneous shutdown. However, these outages occur with no warning and require complete patrol of the impacted line. This leads to lengthy and disruptive outages.
Placerville Weather Stations
The response for new Placerville weather stations has been modest. I continue to work with PG&E staff on this issue. More discussion is needed to improve the data collection and reliability of the existing NWS station at Placerville Airport. Ideally, this site will receive a backup power supply and more robust wind instruments.
CPUC Fire Tier, South Main Street
The South Side of Main Street remains in the critical fire tier for 2022. Action at the CPUC is required to exempt existing overhead lines south of Main Street. Other PSPS projects have constructed exempt overhead lines along Pacific and Sacramento Street, near Reservoir Alley.
Underground remains an option following the traditional Rule 20 process.
Transmission Switches
The project to install automatic transmission switches in Placerville and Camino has been delayed. Construction is now expected in late 2023. These switches would reduce the need to run the Gen Set at Placerville sub and the associated outages.
Placerville Substation Building
Thanks to Brandon Sanders, progress is occurring at the Broadway site. The building will remain. PG&E is working to select a color that blends well with the surrounding buildings.
Brandon also removed an unpermitted use on the site by a tree contractor.
Distribution Hardening Projects
I am pleased to update the Council on several projects. The new underground connection to Eskaton Village is being installed. Cable installation and connection should be done well before PSPS season arrives. Patch paving remains to be completed.
Circuit reconfiguration and new automatic switch installation projects remain on schedule and will be completed by summer 2022. This will greatly reduce outages to vital commercial and government buildings along Placerville Drive, Ray Lawyer and Forni Road areas.
Last year we questioned PG&E about a conductor replacement program to remove the old copper conductors strung in our historic neighborhoods. They advised, these copper conductors are not prohibited and are inspected per the CPUC safety guidelines. Following these same guidelines for line inspection contributed to ignition of the Camp Fire in Paradise.
Double Pole Issue
The issue of the communication utilities transferring their cables and removing the old pole remains unresolved. The number of "double poles" continues to grow every week.
PG&E's unprecedented pole replacement efforts have created an enormous issue across their territory. California utilities work under a master agreement administered by the Joint Pole Association of Northern California. This agreement sets our clear costs and levels of responsibility for pole work. Our double pole issue is under this agreement.
Transfering cables and removing old poles has always been low priority, undesirable work.
Correcting decades of deferred pole maintenance by PG&E has created a tremendous burden on the Joint Pole Association, other utilities, property owners and public work's departments.
Without intervention, it will be years or decades before this work is completed. The impacts run from visual, blocking traffic lanes, sidewalks, site distances and public safety. Please remember, in most instances, these old poles have been deemed unsafe to support utility cables.
Thank you for your time and support. I remain in regular contact with Brandon Sanders and our City Manager. We have enjoyed a number of successes working with PG&E the last 5 years.
Public safety remains our top priority.
Mark Acuna