Dark Lights, Little City: So Cal Ed Tackles Rodents, Birds and City

By Teresa Rochester

It is one of the darker facts of life in Santa Monica - the plague of frequent power outages that leave chunks of the City in the dark, particularly in the Ocean Park, Marine Park and downtown areas.

But while power outages have dropped 15 to 20 percent in Santa Monica, the problem will persist because of tough regulations laid down by the City, a Southern California Edison (SCE) official told the City Council Tuesday night.

"We've pretty much done all of the preventive maintenance that we can do without the heavy duty maintenance," said Mark Olson, a government affairs liaison with SCE. "What we're asking for is to improve the system even more and to upgrade the infrastructure. We're willing to work with you if you're willing to work with us."

Heavy-duty maintenance includes tearing up streets to install equipment underground, which would stop animals from shorting out circuits. While Olson said the electric company has the budget to do the work, city regulations -- including a stringent permit process -- have hamstrung Southern California Edison's efforts.

"Traffic control issues, street excavation, notification to the public, the hours crews are allowed to work and the permit process is very difficult and unpredictable in Santa Monica," Olson said after the presentation. "We're willing to upgrade the system. It's whether the City will encourage the upgrades."

Three Southern California Edison circuits, which supply power to downtown, Ocean Park and Marine Park, have proven to be the most troublesome. The above ground circuits, dubbed the Albatross, D-Bug and Riptide, are prone to causing outages.

Olson said that there are a variety of causes for outages. At the Marine Park circuit (D-Bug), SCE has seen an "alarming" increase - about 15 to 44 percent -- in rats and squirrels wreaking havoc with the power source. To combat the problem the company installed a special protective covering.

Throughout the City the cause of outages are evenly split, Olson said. Outside forces -- such as rodents, weather and tree trimmers -- account for one-third of the outages, while substation and supply problems account for another third. Problems with equipment also cause one-third of the City's blackouts.

Between 1997 and 2000 Southern California Edison has seen a seven percent increase in the number of outages caused by birds getting into the lines. Power outages caused by trees have dropped to seven percent from 12 percent.

Mylar balloons accounted for three percent of all outages between 1999 and 2000 and weather has only played a role in 10 percent of the outages during the same period. The number of independent tree trimmers hitting power lines has increased.

After the presentation Olson said he would meet with City officials to begin hammering out ways to tackle heavy-duty upgrades.

As part of the special presentation to the City Council, City staff touted their energy efficiency plans, which have served as a model for other cities looking to lighten their impact on the state's strained electrical supply.

Craig Perkins, the City's director of environmental and public works management, said the City is looking to improve energy efficiency in affordable housing and at the bus yards at 502 Colorado Avenue.

The City also plans to host public workshops on energy efficiency. The Civic Center area also will be studied to determine cost-effective approaches for heating, cooling, electricity and distribution.