RPVCCA_CC_SR_2012_07_17_05_SCE_Presentation_On_Current_Community_IssuesCITY OF
MEMORANDUM
TO:
DATE:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE MAYOR &CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
CAROLYNN PETRU,DEPUTY CITY MANAGE~
JULY 17,2012
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDISON PRESENTATION ON CURRENT
COMMUNITY ISSUES
CAROLYN LEHR,CITY MANAGER o..Q-.-
Matt Waters,Senior Administrative Analyst ~
RECOMMENDATION
REVIEWED:
Staff Coordinator:
Receive a presentation by Southern California Edison (SCE)on infrastructure,fires,
equipment location and placement,and other electrical infrastructure issues affecting
residents of Rancho Palos Verdes (RPV).Provide direction to staff to prepare any follow-
up action requests of SCE,which may include,but are not limited to the recommended
actions contained in this report.
BACKGROUND:
Following a series of electrical outages and the January 9,2012 Crest Fire,the RPV City
Council authorized Mayor Misetich at its February 21,2012 meeting to send a letter to SCE
strongly encouraging the utility company to take measures to reduce the frequency and
duration of power outages in RPV and throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula that
continues to be a source offrustration,inconvenience and financial loss for City residents.
The letter also emphasized the City's concern about the frequent open space fires caused
by electrical failures and accidents that threaten lives and property and that have potential
adverse effects on native habitat viability.
SCE Vice-President of Power Delivery,Walter Johnson,wrote a response letter to Mayor
Misetich on March 26,2012.Mr.Johnson stated that SCE took the City's concerns
seriously,saying,"I want to assure you that this is a matter of importance and efforts are
underway to improve reliability throughout the Peninsula area."The letter references a
February 29,2012 meeting between SCE personnel and City Managers and staff from the
four Peninsula Cities.The meeting was an opportunity for SCE to provide an overview of
their recent and pending improvements as well as longer term Peninsula Reliability
Improvement Plan.5-1
Southern California Edison Presentation on Current Community Issues
July 17,2012
Page 2
SCE's Regional Manager of Public Affairs,Marvin Jackmon agreed at that meeting to
attend upcoming Council meetings to discuss each City's concerns.Mr.Jackmon is
scheduled to appear at the July 17,2012 RPV Council meeting to address a wide range of
important community issues including electrical power outages,plans for infrastructure
improvements and upgrades,fires related to SCE equipment,and the recent installation of
transformers located adjacent to a resident's home on Toscanini Drive.
DISCUSSION:
Electrical Outages
Electrical power outages,and system failures have been a regular occurrence in RPVand
throughout the Palos Verdes Peninsula in recent years.While outages in Palos Verdes
Estates (PVE)in late 2011 received more attention due to their length and the number of
homes affected,there has been an average of over twenty-siX outages per year in RPV
from 2008-2011.RPV outages and repair orders combined to average over fifty 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
:ijm:iitjit:jj~Qii.it:iH:l:i::H:W::IltiPiff:::QraiijII::mjttt:::::~::t~:mii1jIim:j:jn::::
2008 23 19 42
2009 34 29 63
2010 22 34 56
2011 26 27 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
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.
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.Mr.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.
SCE representatives at the December 13,2011 Council meeting in PVE and subsequent
February 29,2012 meeting with staff from all four Peninsula cities,discussed what has
been done to address aging infrastructure and what is planned for the future.
SCE staff candidly conceded that the Peninsula has aging infrastructure which is decaying
faster than it is being upgraded and that the infrastructure improvements process,known
as the "Palos Verdes Reliability Project,"will be lengthy with significant service disruptions
5-2
Southern California Edison Presentation on Current Community Issues
July 17,2012
Page 3
as upgrades are implemented.SCE's February 29 th presentation included a slide that
stated that "The Palos Verdes Peninsula is experiencing excessive,unplanned outages,
both in duration and frequency,due to equipment failures and environmental conditions."
Mr.Johnson acknowledged that much of SCE's equipment is beyond its useful life
expectancy,but SCE lacks the requisite funds to immediately replace it all,estimating the
total upgrade expense at over $100 million.
SCE's Peninsula Reliability Project is intended to establish a plan to achieve the following
objectives:
~Establish a plan to respond to unplanned outages in a more timely manner
~Establish improved communication and cooperation with stakeholders
~Create a district plan to mitigate future problems
~Identify critical zones by circuit and substation
~Create a cascading work plan for infrastructure issues
~Identify current and future projects
SCE indicated that over $1 0 million has been spent 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 in 2012
•Complete $900,000 in Capital Improvements
•Preventative Maintenance (Planned Tree Trimming)
In addition,the continuing installation of smart meters will enable SCE to more reliably and
quickly identify outage locations,and fused switches will help isolate outage problems
without impacting other customers.SCE also has a long-term goal of replacing
problematic "circuit in conduit"wiring which has required extensive maintenance expense.
Mr.Jackmon's presentation to PVE noted that forty-five circuits currently provide electricity
to the Palos Verdes Peninsula.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.Planned outages will occur as improvements are made and unplanned outages will
continue to be a reality,although hopefully less frequent.
SCE-Related Fires
The City is also deeply concerned about the frequency of electrical system and equipment
failures and accidents in residential and open space areas.The cause of the two most
significant fires in RPV open space areas since 2005 were determined to be related to
SCE equipment.The 2005 San Clemente Fire was determined by Los Angeles County
Fire Department (LACOFD)investigators to have been caused by a broken SCE power
5-3
Southern California Edison Presentation on Current Community Issues
July 17,2012
Page 4
pole.The 2009 Portuguese Bend fire was also determined by the LACOFD to be the result
of SCE equipment failure.The cause of the January 9,2012 Crest Fire which burned
approximately fifteen acres in McCarrell Canyon and the Three Sisters Nature Reserve
was determined to be a mylar balloon that hit electrical lines,fell to ground aflame and set
the grass on fire.Two simultaneous fires (known collectively as the Narcissa Fire)on May
26,2012 both in the Portuguese Bend Nature Reserve and on nearby private property,
were determined by a Los Angeles Sheriff Department Arson Investigation to potentially
have been caused by SCE equipment.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
the above-mentioned fires.
Rancho Palos Verdes Major and Recent Fires 2005·2012
2005
2009
2012
2012
San Clemente Fire
Portuguese Bend Fire
Crest Fire
Narcissa Fires
179 17.5
180 165
B 15
4.2 unknown
Large,multi-acre fires such as the 2005 and 2009 fires are very destructive and therefore
high-profile,drawing extensive media and public attention.There are also many more
fires and incidents that originate in Rancho Palos Verdes that draw far less attention
because they are smaller in scope,are not near populated areas,or are quickly
extinguished by the efforts of the LACOFD.LACOFD's Arson Investigation Unit Fire
Prevention Division provided staff with Incident reports from January 2005-June,2012.
Incident reports had to meet at least one of the following criteria:
1)All wildland (grass/brush)fires of 1 acre or more
2)All wildland fires of any size where SCE equipment was noted as being involved
3)Any other incidents including pole fires,tree fires,or wires down where SCE was noted
in the report as being involved.
Analysis of 2005·2012 LACOFD Incident Reports
•'at.~llim
2005 8 6 2 2
2006 4 4 1 1
2007 8 4 0 0
2008 6 1 1 1
2009 5 4 1 1
2010 6 1 0 0
2011 8 4 1 0
2012 5 3 3 3
5-4
Southern California Edison Presentation on Current Community Issues
July 17,2012
PageS
The incidents mentioned above and in the following,more-detailed spreadsheet range from
downed power-lines with no accompanying fires to multi-hundred acre wildfires.Most
incidents involved minimal to no acreage damage.Fifty separate incidents were reported,
including twenty-seven involving fire,which equates to an average of over three per year.
The other twenty-three incidents involve equipment failure,usually downed power lines,
which did not result in a fire.Fire causes included downed power lines,birds and animals
that were electrocuted by high-power transmission lines and fell to the ground,
transformers overheating,and vegetation coming into contact with high power lines.
While structural damage has been fairly minimal,the total size of the fires was 401 acres
with the majority constituted by the 2005 San Clemente Fire and the 2009 Portuguese
Bend Fire.The submitted reports captured all fires that started in Rancho Palos Verdes
and burned at least one acre.Eight of the nine fires of at least one acre in size involved
SCE or electrical equipment.Fire incidents are highlighted in the following spreadsheet.
Date
1/9/05
4/11/05
Location/Name
PV Dr.South
30517 Rue Langlois
Cause of Fire/Comments
Report of Blown transformer.SCE notified
of blackout in area
Transformer exploded on top of power
pole.SCE Notified
Acres Incident T e
nla Electrical Equipment
nla Electrical Equipment Fire
5-5
Southern California Edison Presentation on Current Community Issues
July 17,2012
Page 6
7/25/07 108 Spindrift
10/9/07 4348 Admirable Dr.
9/3/08 28345 PV DR.East
9/25/08 6 Clovetree Place
n/a
n/a
n/a
n/a
Power Line Down
Power Line Down
Power Line Down
Power Line Down
11/28/09 4229 Stalwart n/a Electrical Equipment
1/19110 30823 Via Rivera n/a Power Line down
4/29/10 2108 Caddington n/a Power Line down
6/23/10 32201 ForrestaI Dr n/a Power Line down
8/17/10 2076 Caddington Dr.n/a Power Line down
5-6
Southern California Edison Presentation on Current Community Issues
July 17,2012
Page 7
9/25/11
10/2/11
none stated
none stated
n/a
n/a
Power Line down
Power Line down
The Palos Verdes/South Bay Sierra Club chapter sent a letter to SCE on February 17,
2012 expressing its concerns about the "frequency of fires in which Southern California
Edison (SCE)transmission lines are implicated in destroying coastal sage scrub habitat
and undoubtedly the wildlife that inhabits it."The letter references the January 9,2012
Crest Fire,the 2009 Portuguese Bend Fire,the 2005 San Clemente Fire and an October
1997 fire that burned 25 acres in McCarrell Canyon.The letter mentions the history of
birds and wildlife being electrocuted by SCE equipment and power lines and subsequently
causing fires when they fell to the ground.The Sierra Club's letter idenitifies five remedies
to reduce the possibility of fires and minimize threat to wildlife in the Palos Verdes Nature
Preserve:
~Increase the gap between conductors and grounds
~Clearing vegetation below power lines
~Insulating conductors
~Undergrounding conductors where geologically feasible
~Re-routing lines outside the Preserve
SCE responded to the Sierra Club's letter on March i h
•The letter noted that SCE's takes
the risk of fire seriously and mentioned the following actions taken to minimize that risk:
~Inspection of trees in high fire areas of Palos Verdes,corrected 3,822 trees in 2010
and 2,985 in 2011.
~Continue to maintain and inspect vegetation near lines on a regular basis.
~Involvement with Edison Electric Institute's Avian Power Lines Interaction
Committee (APLlC).Integrated many APLOC guidelines into new construction
standards.
5-7
Southern California Edison Presentation on Current Community Issues
July 17,2012
PageS
~Begun installing rubber phase covers on certain 66kV poles in the preserve
RPV resident Jim York has contacted SCE and the California Public Utilities Commission
to report that there have been five separate fires on his Portuguese Bend area property
since 2005 (5/26/12,3/28/12,7/31/09,2/7/07,and 7/13/05).Mr.York believes that all five
fires are related to SCE equipment and has requested that SCE move existing power lines
underground on his and adjacent properties including the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve.
SCE Transformer on West Toscanini Drive
SCE erected a utility transformer station on May 25,2012 on two poles located adjacent to
RPV resident's Dr.Jeffrey Barbosa's home on 1803 W.Toscanini Drive.Dr.Barbosa
stated in a letter to the City that the electrical wires and transformers were twenty five feet
above his backyard with wires running directly over parts of his backyard.He described
the transformer as being 35 feet from the master bedroom and his childrens'bedrooms.
Dr.Barbosa's letter mentions studies that indicate long-term health effects from prolonged
exposure to electrical magnetic fields (EMFs)that are generated by transformers and high-
energy power lines.He notes that the Environmental Protection Agency,Center for
Disease Control,and California Public Utilities Commission have recommended limiting
public exposure to EMFs.He questions why the transformers were located in a residential
area rather than at parking lots along Western Boulevard.In addition to health concerns,
Dr.Barbosa stated his concerns about negative impacts to property value .
.While the City issued an encroachment permit allowing SCE to access the site,the City
does not have jurisdiction over the installation of the transformer station as it is located on
CalTrans property.The project is part of SCE's upgrade plan from 4kV to 16kV capacity
to improve reliability throughout the City.Previously,there was a smaller transformer
behind Dr.Barbosa's property which was not visible from his backyard.Tree clearance
performed by SCE crews exposed the new poles to view.The transformer has not been
energized.
After receiving correspondence from Dr.Barbosa and the President of the Rolling Hills
Riviera Home Owners Association,SCE reviewed the project and agreed to move the
platform approximately forty feet to the north on Western Avenue,behind the garage of a
house located at 28420 Pontevedra.Dr.Barbosa signed an agreement to move the
transformer to the new site and the resident on Pontevedra at first agreed to sign,but then
declined,citing concerns about impact on property values,fire risk,and the potential of an
explosion.
Mr.Jackmon told staff that the status of this project has not been resolved yet,but would
hopefully be able to provide more information at the July 17,2012 Council meeting.
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal and environmental impact of fires and outages on the City,its residents,and
open space is certainly substantial,but has not been quantified.
5-8
Southern California Edison Presentation on Current Community Issues
July 17,2012
Page 9
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL REQUESTED ACTIONS
1)Request progress report on implementation of Peninsula Reliability Plan.
2)Provide staff with transformer replacement schedule with particular attention to those
most likely to cause safety concerns for residents.
3)Request progress report on safety measures proposed by Sierra Club.
City Staff
1)Estab~ish a system for residents to report overgrown vegetation in and around SCE
facilities,to be reported to SCE and monitored by City for completion.
2)Prepare a letter for the Mayor's signature to the California Public Utilities Commission
that outlines City Council's expectations for addressing the most significant issues
threatening the safety and well-being of City residents through the implementation of
maintenance and infrastructure measures.
ATTACHMENTS:
a)February 28,2012 Letter from Mayor Misetich to SCE
b)March 26,2012 SCE Response Letter to Mayor Misetich
c)February 17,2012 Sierra Club Letter to SCE
d)March 7,2012 SCE Response Letter to Sierra Club
e)February 29,2012 Palos Verdes Reliability Project Powerpoint Presentation
f)May 30,2012 Jeffrey Barbosa letter to SCE regarding transformer
5-9
ATTACHMENT A
FEBRUARY 28,2012 LETTER FROM MAYOR MISETICH TO SCE
5-10
"''..
CITYOF
ANTHONY M,MISETICH,MAYOR
BRIAN CAMPBELL,MAYOR PRO TEM
SUSAN BROOI<S,COUNCILWOMAN
JERRY V.DUHOVIC,COUNCILMAN
JIM KNIGHT,COUNCILMAN
February 28,2012
Ms.Lynda L.Ziegler
Executive Vice President,Power Delivery Services
Southern California Edison
P.O.Box 800
Rosemead,'CA 91770
RANCHO PALOS VERDES
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.City
residents and the Sierra Club have publicly expressed their concern about the threat to
wildlife,particularly to nesting hawks and other avian species,from aging and out-dated SCE
equipment.According to a letter sent to SCE on February 17,2012 by the local chapter of
the Sierra Club,these conditions not only cause the needless electrocution of birds,but also
increase the possibility of destructive wildfires.The City strongly encourages SCE to take all
necessary steps to address these vital concerns.
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 Cou~cil
30940 HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD /RANCHO PALOS VERDES,CA 90275-5391 /(310)544-5205/FAX (310)544-5291 /WWW.PALOSVERDES,COM/RPV
',-PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
5-11
strongly encourages SeE to prioritize improving the electrical infrastructure of Rancho Palos
Verdes and the entire Palos Verdes Peninsula,thereby reducing the number and intensity of
outages and the potential destruction of native habitat and wildlife.Thank you for your
attention to this matter.
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.
,
5-12
ATTACHMENT 8
MARCH 26,2012 SCE RESPONSE LETTER
TO MAYOR MISETICH
5-13
·~v SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
'~EDISON@
All EDISON INTERNA110NALf>Company
March 26,2012
The Honorable Anthony Misetich
Mayor,City of Rancho Palos Verdes
30940 Hawthorne Blvd.,
Rancho Palos Verdes,CA 90275
Mayor Misetich:
RE:Recurring Outages -Rancho Palos Verdes
Walter J.Johnston
Vice President
Power Delivery
Thank you for your recent letter to Lynda Ziegler,Executive Vice President of Power Delivery at Southern
California Edison (SCE).Your letter is regarding electrical service interruptions in the City of Rancho
Palos Verdes and the impact it presents to the residents of your city.As Vice President of Power
Delivery,I want to assure you that this is a matter of importance and efforts are underway to improve
reliability throughout the Peninsula area.
On February 29,2012,Veronica Gutierrez (SCE Vice President of Local Public Affairs),Marvin Jackmon
(Region Manager),our Peninsula Reliability Improvement Project team,and I met with your City
Manager and representatives of the three other cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.The purpose of the
meeting was to prOVide an overview of Edison's near-term improvements as well as our multi-year
Peninsula Reliability Improvement Plan and engage in a two-way conversation about service reliability,
needed infrastructure replacement,and project funding constraints.
As you know,Marvin Jackman has been working closely with your city's staff to prOVide briefings on
SCE's short-and long-term reliability plans for all four cities on the Peninsula.As agreed during our
meeting on February 29,by the end of March,Mr.Jackmon will be coordinating meetings with each of
those City Managers and further updating them on the status of the improvement plans and provide
detailed circuitry information for their respective cities,as requested during out meeting.Further,Mr.
Jackman has offered to assist with communicating these efforts to the residents of Rancho Palos Verdes
at an upcoming city council meeting,community town hall workshop,or other venue you may feel
appropriate.
Additionally,we recently received a letter from the Sierra Club and their concerns regarding wildfires
and impacts to avian and other wildlife on the Peninsula.Upon responding to the Sierra Club,I will ask
that Mr.Jackmon provide you a copy for your review.
One Innovation Way
Pomona,CA 91768
(909)274-1 11 1
waltcr.johnston@sce.com
5-14
Mayor Misetich
March 26,2012
Page 2
Mayor Misetich,I thank you for your letter and appreciate the patience you and the residents
throughout the peninsula communities have shown.Our goal is to provide a continuous supply of
reliable service to the customers we serve,and although we cannot ever guarantee freedom from
interruptions,I assure you that we will do all that we can to meet that goal.Should you have any further
concerns regarding this matter,I have asked that Mr.Jackmon remain directly available to assist you.
Marvin can be reached at (626)388-7460.Thank you again for your correspondence.
Sincerely,
W;t1 er Johnston
Vice President,Power De
Southern California Ediso
Cc:Ron Litzinger,President,Southern California Edison
Lynda Ziegler,Executive Vice President,Power Delivery
Veronica Gutierrez,Vice President Local Public Affairs
David L.Mead,Senior Vice President,Transmission and Distribution
5-15
ATTACHMENT C
FEBRUARY 17,2012 SIERRA CLUB LETTER TO SCE
5-16
SIERRA
CLUB
FOUNDeD 1892-Palos Verdes -South Bay Group I Angeles Chapter
February 17,2012
Marvin Jackmon
Regional Public Affairs Manager
Southern California Edison
505 Maple
Torrance,CA 90503
Dear Mr.Jackmon:
Sierra Club members are concerned about the frequency of fires in which Southern California Edison (SCE)
transmission lines are implicated in destroying coastal sage scrub habitat and undoubtedly the wildlife that
inhabits it.
Most recently,Monday,January 9,2012,a fire broke out at or near a transmission line tower in McCarrell
Canyon,across from Rhone Drive in Rancho Palos Verdes.The fire burned down the Canyon and then into the
Three Sisters Reserve,an area within the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve (the Preserve),destroying stands of
cactus,home of the coastal cactus wren,a California Species of Special Concern,and other native habitat,and
damaging a water main line that runs to a habitat restoration project of the Palos Verdes Peninsula Land
Conservancy.
Less than three years ago,on August 27,2009,a fire within the Portuguese Bend area of the Preserve burned
165 acres,damaging or destroying many acres of critical habitat.The Los Angeles County Fire Department
(LACFD)Arson/Fire Investigative Unit determined that the fire was caused by an electrical mechanical
malfunction of the electrical wiring and/or connector adjacent to an SCE power pole.
In addition,SCE was determined by LACFD to be responsible for the July 14,2005 fire that also burned many
acres in the Portuguese Bend area of the Preserve.
In October,1997 a fire burned 25 acres in McCarrell Canyon.It was apparently caused by a bird that fell to the
ground and ignited the brush below after having been electrocuted by SCE transmission wires.Local residents
reported that hawks commonly nested on the transmission towers and that similar fires involving the power
lines occurred previously in McCarrell Canyon.Subsequently,as mitigation,SCE installed a nesting platform
located below the transmission lines on a support tower.Hawks now nest on the platform in close proximity to
power lines.
The Preserve is host to four at-risk species including the coastal cactus wren,the California gnatcatcher,the
Palos Verdes blue butterfly,and the El Segundo blue butterfly.The contribution of millions of dollars of public
and private funds,including contributions by our membership individually and collectively,has enabled the
preservation of habitat within the Preserve.Ongoing contributions support restoration to expand and enhance
the quality of the native habitat.Frequent wildfires threaten to undermine the success of such efforts.The
native flora is slow growing and it is well-documented that frequently burned areas are subject to rapid
colonization by invasive plants.Moreover,each fire not only represents a loss of flora and fauna but,
depending upon the season,a potential loss of nests,eggs,larvae and pupae of at-risk species.
P.O Box 2464 •Palos Verdes Peninsula,California 90274
@ Printed on Recycled Paper
5-17
While the City of Rancho Palos Verdes received funds for re-vegetation after the 2005 fIre,applied for funds
for re-vegetation after the 2009 fIre,and may do the same following this 2012 fIre,neither natural nor human
re-vegetation efforts can keep up with the frequent wildfIres that repeatedly reduce the shrub cover and hence
the habitat suitability for these rare species.Nor do such payments compensate for the taking of at-risk species.
As a result of the damage to the environment and the continuing fIre threat we urge SCE to implement means
for effective fIre prevention and to minimize threats to wildlife in the Preserve.Potential solutions might
include (1)increasing the gaps between conductors and grounds,(2)clearing vegetation below power lines,(3)
insulating conductors,(4)undergrounding conductors where geologically feasible,and/or (5)rerouting lines
outside the Preserve.
With respect to avian threats,which are well documented and studied and which some speculate was the cause
ofthe most recent fIre in the Preserve,the short length of gaps between conductors and ground on the McCarrell
Canyon transmission lines represents a serious design flaw.Wings of raptors are clearly able to span the gaps.
The issue is not only the fIre threat but the impact to the birds themselves.The Edison Electric Institute,which
describes itself as The Association of Shareholder-owned Electric Companies (SCE is a member),has
established The Avian Power Line Interaction Committee (APLIC.org)which addresses this issue.In the report
"Suggested Practices for Avian Protection on Power Lines:The State of the Art in 2006"
(http://www.aplic.org/uploads/fIles/2643/SuggestedPractices2006(LR-2).pdf),issues are summarized and
effective technical remediations are described.The document summarizes the legal mandate to avoid takings of
listed migratory species including hawks,owls,crows and others covered by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act
(1918 amended 1972).The APLIC report describes "avian-safe"power pole confIgurations that are designed to
minimize bird electrocution risk by providing suffIcient separation between individual phase conductors and
between conductors and grounds.If such separation cannot be provided,exposed parts should be insulated to
reduce electrocution risk.Examples are provided of successful programs that have been implemented by
member utilities.The current confIgurations of McCarrell Canyon transmission lines do not meet conditions for
avian-safe designs.
We urge SCE to consult with experts to develop and implement effective solutions to prevent these frequent
fIres and mitigate the biological impacts of power lines.We look forward to hearing from you regarding
actions taken on the part of SCE to address the issue.
Please respond to John Wessel (email wesselj@cox.net)for follow-up on this topic.
Sincerely,
Alfred Sattler
Executive Committee Chair
Pa,los Verdes-South Bay Regional Group
Sierra Club
cc:
Ra,ncho Palos Verdes City Council
Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager Carolyn Lehr
Assistant Fire Chief Barry Nugent,Los Angeles County Fire Department
P.O Box 2464 •Palos Verdes Peninsula,California 90274
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5-18
ATTACHMENT 0
MARCH 7,2012 SCE RESPONSE LETTER TO SIERRA CLUB
5-19
SOU fHF RN C-\L1fOI~M~
El)IS()N
March 07,2012
VIA U.S.MAIL AND E-MAIL (wesselj@cox.net)
Walter J.Johnston
V.P.,Power Delivery
walter.johnston@sce.com
Alfred Sattler
John Wessel
Palos Verdes-South Bay Regional Group,Sierra Club
P.O.Box 2464
Rancho Palos Verdes,CA 90274
RE:February 17,2012 letter
Dear Me~srs.Sattler and Wessel,
MAR 1 2 2012
Thank you for your February 17,2012 letter to Marvin J ackmon of Southern California
Edison ("SCE")regarding fires in the Palos Verdes Nature Preserve ("Preserve").SCE takes the
risk of fire very seriously,and we are committed to reducing that risk throughout our service
territory.We acknowledge there have been several fires over the years that have affected the
Preserve.Because the January 2012 incident is still under investigation,and prior incidents are
the subject of pending litigation,I will not address specific fires in this letter.1 Instead,I will
explain the steps we are taking to mitigate the risk of fires.
In 2010 and 2011,we completed a CPUC-mandated fire management plan that included
the inspection of trees in the high-fire areas of Palos Verdes.We corrected trees found to have
structural defects or overhanging tree limb conditions:3,822 trees in 2010 and 2,985 trees in
2011.We continue to inspect and maintain the vegetation near our lines on a regular basis to
reduce the risk of fires caused by falling trees and tree limbs.
We are also taking additional steps to reduce the risk of fires caused by avian and other
animal interactions with our lines.As a member of the Edison Electric Institute (EEl),SCE has
been involved in EEl's Avian Power Lines Interaction Committee (APLIC)for years.We are
quite familiar with the APLIC guidelines and have incorporated many elements into our
standards for new construction.In an effort to mitigate avian cd'htacts,we have begun installing
rubber phase covers on certain poles on our 66kV line in the Preserve.We have tentatively
scheduled to complete additional installation in March.
We are working closely with local officials on upgrades intended to improve reliability in
the Palos Verdes Peninsula.I met with the city managers of Rancho Palos Verdes,Palos Verdes
Estates,Rolling Hills,and Rolling Hills Estates on February 29 to discuss their reliability
concerns.
I However,I would like to clarify that these fires did not involve transmission lines (over 220kV),but allegedly
involved subtransmission or distribution lines up to 66kV.
I Innovation Way Pomona,California,91768 (909)274-1111
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Palos Verdes-South Bay Regional Group,Sierra Club
Page 2
March 07,2012
Please contact Marvin J ackmon,the Regional Public Affairs Manager for the South Bay
area,at (310)783-9341 to discuss these issues further.
V7!~'
/Walter J.JOhn.}t n
/(J
cc:Rancho Palos Verdes City Council
Carolyn Lehr,Rancho Palos Verdes City Manager
Assistant Chief Barry Nugent,Los Angeles County Fire Dept.
Marvin Jackmon,SCE.
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ATTACHMENT E
FEBRUARY 29,2012 PALOS VERDES RELIABILITY PROJECT
POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
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Agenda
•Problem Statement
•Background
•Project Objectives
•Proposed Solutions
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Problem Statement
The Palos Verdes Peninsula is experiencing
excessive unplanned outages,both in
duration and frequency,due to equipment
failures and environmental conditions.
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Background .
•Palos Verdes Peninsula has
infrastructure which is approaching the
end of its expected and useful life
•SeE has invested $10M in new
equipment since 2008
•$4 million new circuit project in 2012
•More upgrades have been identified
for the future
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Project Objectives
•Establish a plan to respond to unplanned
outages in a more timely manner
•Establish improved communication and
cooperation with stakeholders
•Create district plan to mitigate future problems
•Identify critical zones by circuit and substation
•Create a cascading work plan for infrastructure.Issues
•Identify current and future projects
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Recommended Solutions
1.Unplanned Outage Response Plan
2.Interim Containment Plan
3.Proposed Long-Term Plan
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Recommended Solutions
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2.Interim Containment Plan
3.Proposed Long-Term Plan
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Unplanned Outage Response
Plan
•Shorten troubleshooting time for extended
unplanned outages
•District crew called out when notified of
unplanned outages
•Install shoo-fly to minimize the outage
duration
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Interim Containment Plan
•Shortened troubleshooting time
-Fault Indicators
•Minimize number of customers affected by a
faulted radial
-Branch Line Fuses
-Fused BURD Switches
-Fused Cabinets
•Provide alternative source to feed customers
•Protection and isolation of mainline faults
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Interim Containment Plan
Example
•Fault Indicators (FI)
-Improves reliability
-Isolates the problem
-Shortens troubleshooting time
-Expedites ability to restore power
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Interim Containment Plan Example
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Coveview 16kV -Mainline
_New Cable (2008)
-Old Cable
-Chico 16kV -Mainline
',xc,»ox,m Crestwind UGS -Mainline
---Bauxite 16kV -Mainline
Legend:
Fault Indicator (FI)
<OO!IlIIIIlIl!I Moulded Vacuum Switchl
Fused Burd Switch
eCapitallmprovements
.2011 Outages
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Estates
Coveview Outages•••••••••
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Progress To Date
•Completed 2.5 miles of underground cable
replacement in Palos Verdes Estates
•Implemented Interim Containment Plan
-Survey,planning,permitting,scheduling,
execution
•Expected switchover of customers from
Lunada Bay to a nearby circuit
•Planned completion end of summer 2012
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Recommended Solutions
1.Unplanned Outage Response Plan
2.Interim Containment Plan
r"Y1>....~~....Yo-Yii'lo.---.::.....y;,>....~....~....,.,~~~....~~---------:---------;;;;s;;:;t&13.Proposed Long-Term Plan
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Proposed Long-Term Plan
•Establish a structured program
-Survey area
-Establish scope
-Design
-Construction
•Multi-year plan contingent upon General
Rate Case (GRC)funding
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Proposed Long-Term Plan
Criteria Considerations
•Circuit Performance Ranking
•Customer Minutes of Interruption
•Outage and Repair Order History
•Number of Customers
•Geographical Area
•Planned Infrastructure Replacement
Projects
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What Does This Mean To You?
Cable In Conduit (CIC}radial replacement
• Impact to residential customers
•Partnership Opportunity
-Project location
-Easements
-Permits
-Hours of operation
-Traffic control
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Proposed Long-Term Plan
Project Funding
•General Rate Case (GRC)
•Decision expected by end of year
•Magnitude and timeline will be affected by
GRC decision
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Emergencies:[Power outages
and downed power lines]
•1-800-611-1911
General Information:
•1-800-655-4555
Marvin Jackmon
Public Affairs Region Manager
310.783J}341
Marvin.Jackmon@sce.com
Southern California Edison
www~sce.com
CA Public Utilities
Commission
www.cpuc.ca.gQY1
CA Independent System
Operator
www.CAISO.Com
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ATTACHMENT F
MAY 30,2012 JEFFREY BARBOSA LETTER TO
SCE REGARDING TRANSFORMER
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05/30/2012
To:Marvin Jackman
Southern California Edison
From:Jeffrey T.Barbosa,M.D.
1803 W.Toscanini Dr.
Rancho Palos Verdes,CA 90275
Dear Mr.Jackman,
Per our discussion I am sending you the complaint I have sent to the mayor,the board of supervisors
and my HOA with my discoveries of the EMF's from the electric wires.I have included some comparison
shots for you of the equivalent dosage of milivolts caused on a cheap radioshack multimeter set to
milivolts that likely is under representing the actual fields produced.I also have a great video on the
topic before the previous transformers were removed if you care to see it sometime.
At about 35-40 feet away from the transformers in the back of my property you see the reading of 18.4
milivolts,which is about the same distance the new transformers are to my bedroom.This would be
about the same or worse than me giving my children a running microwave oven to sleep on.
I hope that you all find it in your hearts as parents to do the right thing for the safety of my family,my
financial status as well as for the property values of my neighbors and move the equipment to a safer
location working with us to find a reasonable solution for all.I know you believe it is the right thing to
do to just move the equipment up the street to a non residential location.
I will forward the CPUC guidelines also should you desire,but the bullet points in my complaint actually
are taken directly from the guidelines,none of which I,or anyone who reads this believe were actually
followed.
Thanks for your consideration
Jeffrey T.Barbosa,M.D.
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I am a resident of Rancho Palos Verdes and upon returning home from work on Friday May 25th ,2012,I
discovered that Southern California Edison had erected a utility transformer station on two huge poles
on the sidewalk just adjacent to my home.The electrical wires and transformers are literally 25 feet
above my backyard,which stick out with wires running directly overhead of part of my backyard and are
approximately 35 feet from my master bedroom and my childrens'bedrooms.(See attached photos.)
As a physician serving Los Angeles County as Medical Director of the Long Beach Comprehensive Health
Center,Bellflower Health Center and Wilmington Health Center,I am well aware of the studies which
highly suggest that long term exposure to the electrical magnetic fields (EMFs)generated by high
powered energy lines and the transformers is likely a causative factor in developing childhood leukemia
as well as multiple other health hazards.I am uncertain as to why these high powered transformers
would be placed over my house,in a residential area,by a bus stop where residents wait for hours,and
were not placed over the multiple parking lots along Western Boulevard that are within 50 yards of this
location,where people would be much less affected.
Besides the health hazards these may cause,they also will have a significant impact on me financially as
the property value of my home as well as the surrounding homes will be affected by my property's
decreased value from the transformers,poles and platform.
The Environmental Protection Agency,the Center for Disease Control,as well as the California Public
Utilities commission and countless other regulatory agencies have recommended actions for limiting
public exposure to EMF's with the California Public Utilities commission standards listed below:
No-cost and low-cost steps to reduce EMF levels:When regulated utilities design new projects or upgrade
existing facilities,approximately 4%of the project's budget may be used for reducing EMFs.The PUC did not
set specific reduction levels for EMFs .It was inappropriate to set a specific numerical standard until a scientific
basis for doing so exists.
New designs to reduce EMF levels:The PUC's Advisory and Compliance Division and Safety Division held
workshops for utilities to develop EMF design guidelines for new and rebuilt facilities.The guidelines
incorporate alternative sites,increase the size of rights-of-way,place facilities underground,and use other
suggested methods for reducing EMF levels at transmission,distribution and substation facilities
Measurement of EMFs:Uniform residential and workplace EMF measurement programs were also designed
in the workshops;they are available to utilities and their customers.Other utilities are also encouraged to use
them.
I believe the City of Rancho Palos Verdes,California Transit (who I was told authorized the permit),and
Southern California Edison have completely and utterly ignored the public's and my family's safety,as
well as the recommended regulations involving this project.This negligence will significantly increase
my family's exposure,our surrounding families'exposure,and all citizens who use the public transit stop
at the corner of Western and Toscanini.There are miles of uninhabited areas of Western Avenue with
another suitable site for the transformers literally less than 50 yards away over a parking lot,however,
the transformers have been placed almost as close as they can be to my house and backyard.
In speaking to an electrical contractor working on this job,liThe transformers could easily have been
placed up the street with no negative impact and no increased cost!"
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I have tried contacting Southern California Edison with several complaints,which were called in on
5/25/2012,5/29/2012 as well as have contacted my Homeowners Association for Rancho Palos Verdes
who forwarded my issue to the Rancho Palos Verdes Department of Public Works who all defer the issue
to S.C.E.
To date I have heard nothing from S.C.E.however the contractors tell me they are going to energize the
transformers on Thursday,May 31 st •There are currently transformers about 150 feet away from my
home,which I included a picture of a multimeter showing that even at about 35 feet away from them
there is enough of a magnetic field to generate about 15-25 mili-volts of electicity on the meter.This is
roughly the equivalent of being about two to three inches away from a microwave oven that is on
consistently.However,as the effects decrease exponentially with distance from the source,I am not
hugely opposed to these,but given that they are upgrading the design even these likely should be
moved to a safer location as my posterior neighbors are close to these and this would mitigate their
exposure as'per the recommended guidelines.
As you can see from the pictures,this would also provide a significant hazard to my family and children
as playing in the backyard or even cleaning the pool would be dangerous with the wires overhead.If you
could please do something to halt this very poor decision,I would greatly appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey T.Barbosa,M.D.
1803 W.Toscanini Dr.
Rancho Palos Verdes,CA.90275
Jbarbosa01@yahoo.com
(310)962-5740
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