Some residents affected by previous wildfires showed up Monday before the San Diego City Council to argue against a resolution that the council later approved in a 6-2 vote that endorsed the shut-off plan by San Diego Gas & Electric to cut power to backcountry areas when there is a high risk of wires sparking wildfires.
The council’s vote was only a resolution, which recommends the California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) approve the plan by SDG&E. The 6-2 vote is only advisory.
The San Diego County Board of Supervisors, which, unlike the city council, represents the unincorporated areas, has asked the PUC to reject the plan.
Also endorsing the plan was San Diego Fire Chief Tracy Jarman, who told the council “history will repeat itself” with another devastating wildfire if the SDG&E plan is not approved. Jarman said her department was the county’s largest firefighting agency and many San Diego firefighters helped put out the wildfires in 2003 and 2007 that were mostly in unincorporated areas.
“The plan has merit,” said Jarman. “The fires we have, the majority of the time, they came from power lines.”
Another firefighter with 30 years experience told the council that the first thing firefighters often do at house fires is to turn off a home’s electrical power.
Donna Tisdale, chairman of the Boulevard planning group, urged the council to reject the plan, saying “it’s dangerous.” Without power, reverse 911 calls won’t work, and it would cripple residents’ ability to defend their own property, she said.
“It shuts off our well pumps. Wells are our only source of water to fight fires,” said Tisdale, adding that most Boulevard residents use wells for their main source of water.
“We’re here because SDG&E failed to maintain their lines,” said Tisdale.
Jennifer Healy, who represents six water districts, told the council the water districts are opposed to the plan as they need power to make their equipment work. She said there were not enough generators to go around, and schools could end up having no water.
Healy said water rates might go up if water districts were required to get huge generators as backup devices.
If the power shut-off had been in effect during the  2007 wildfires, the town of Ramona would have lost power during its evacuation. Fuel pumps wouldn’t pump gasoline, and people could be stranded, she said.
Ramona Municipal Water District is among districts opposing the SDG&E plan.
Another East County resident told the council the power being cut poses “serious risks” to the disabled who need it to survive.
“Some people rely on respirators,” she said.
Fourth District Councilmember Tony Young made the motion to endorse the shut-off plan, saying “we have a fire professional telling us to do this,” in a reference to the fire chief. Seventh District Councilmember Marti Emerald seconded the motion.
Also voting for the resolution were Council President Ben Hueso and Councilmembers Todd Gloria, Carl DeMaio and Kevin Faulconer.
Opposed were First District Councilmember Sherri Lightner and Sixth District Councilmember Donna Frye. Lightner said she was disappointed a cost analysis was not done to show the consequences afterwards of such a plan.
Frye said she opposed the plan because it was presented to her on July 22, and it didn’t contain the information she needed to make a decision.
“I don’t have the time to do the work for SDG&E,” said Frye.
J.C. Thomas, a manager who represents SDG&E, told the council the shut-off plan is “only a last resort.” Thomas said the power shut-off only “involves about 10,000 customers out of 1.5 million” in the county.
“We believe this is necessary to prevent another fire,” said Thomas.    
Thomas repeatedly said the power shutoff would be very narrow and not involve the entire backcountry.
“About 10,000 customers may lose power once or twice a year,” said Thomas.