Regulators Dump San Diego Utility's Wildfire Plan

ELLIOT SPAGAT

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Regulators soundly rejected a utility company's plan to cut electricity to a vast swath of San Diego bedroom communities when the weather is ripe for major wildfires.

The California Public Utilities Commission said the utility failed to show the benefits of the plan outweighed the risks.

San Diego Gas & Electric Co. sought authority to cut power to 60,000 homes and businesses in dry, windy weather, eliminating a potential ignition source.

Critics noted that a number of systems would fail immediately or within hours, including life-critical medical devices, water pumps, phones, televisions, garage door openers and traffic lights.

The commissioners voted 4-1 on Thursday, with Commissioner Timothy Simon dissenting, to reject the plan without future consideration.

"They didn't make an adequate case for what they proposed," said Commissioner Michael Peevey.

Commissioner Rachelle Chong said she worried that loss of television and Internet service and cordless phones would deprive residents of access to emergency information. She was also troubled by the prospect of big traffic jams without lights and difficulties that disabled people might encounter.