Restoration of the San Diego gas and electric transmission system following firestorm 2003

Summary form only given. On Oct. 26, 2003, many people in Southern California awoke to the rising flames of a number of wildfires. The firestorms produced one of the toughest operational challenges ever faced by SDG&E. During the wildfires, front-line employees worked long hours to get back on natural gas and electrical service. Employees of SoCalGas and SDG&E were among those who lost homes or were forced to flee when the flames got too close. Hundreds of distribution lines and over 17 major transmission lines were knocked out of service and damaged by the fires. Approximately 3000 transmission and distribution wood pole structures had to be replaced. Initially about 100,000 customers were without power, due to heroic efforts nearly all customers were back in service within a couple of weeks. Damage throughout the county to SDG&E's electricity infrastructure was great-from De Luz to Descanso and South Poway to Julian. More than 3,000 power poles were destroyed. Then, 400 miles of electrical lines needed to get replaced. And engineers also struggled to rebuild 17 transmission lines. Even utility crews from throughout the West became part of the effort. Under a mutual-aid agreement, crews from Pacific Gas & Electric, the Salt River Project, Tucson Electric, the Imperial Irrigation District and Arizona Public Service joined in the battle against the fires. In just a few weeks, a one-year supply of electrical poles and transformers were used to make repairs.