Community Corner

SDG&E: Down With Old Substation

The South Orange County energy provider proposes to rebuild and expand its aging substation in San Juan Capistrano.

The 93-year-old, ivy-sheathed building on Camino Capistrano, sandwiched between residences and , could be torn down under a forward-looking proposal to supply more power out of San Juan Capistrano.

The old structure stands empty on Camino Capistrano below a hill crowned with aged towers, racks and other utility equipment that make up San Diego Gas and Electric's 138/12 kilovolt Capistrano substation.

To prevent future , SDG&E spokesman Duane Cave introduced a plan to the San Juan Capistrano City Council on Tuesday night to update the substation's infrastructure and expand its energy output. In doing so, the beige shell would be demolished and replaced with a 230/138/12kV substation.

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Named the South Orange County Reliability Project, the overhaul will allow the utility company to keep up with ever-growing energy demands, and "will make our transmission system more reliable," Cave told the City Council.

In reacting to the proposal, the council—responsible for governing the oldest town in Orange County—expressed disappointment that the building constructed in the early 20th century would have to be demolished.

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"I understand the importance of improving the system, [but] since it’s been there since 1919, would it make sense to move it to another location [instead]?" Councilman Derek Reeve asked.

It's the age of the building that will keep SDG&E from relocating it, Cave responded, saying the structure is unsound and it would cost too much to stabilize.

"It’s an important building, people do like it," he acknowledged. "We looked at every way we could to save the building and we just couldn’t do it."

Under the plan the structure would be replaced with a new 50-foot building to house new 138 kV equipment. The existing 30-year-old 138kV transmission lines atop the hill would be replaced with a new 230 kV double-circuit extension to the SDG&E Talega substation in San Clemente.

Currently, the power poles reach heights of 110 feet. New polls would be as tall as 130 feet to support the increased load of electricity.

Cave assured the council that SDG&E will seek its and residents' input on the aesthetics of the new building.

"This is just the beginning to let you know what’s going on," he said.

In August 2010, when petitioning the state's Public Utilities Commission to increase its rates starting Jan. 1, 2012, SDG&E described its growing capital costs, including the need to replace several substations across its coverage area in South Orange County and San Diego County.

The substations slated for removal through 2013 include Bradley, Vista, Central, Roseville, Point Loma Sewer and Christianitos. The substations slated to be rebuilt include Capistrano, Morro Hill, Streamview, Sunnyside and Point Loma.

"This aging infrastructure replacement/upgrade program will increase customer reliability by reducing outage durations, increasing operating flexibility, tie and substation capacity, and reducing maintenance, but it does present an upward pressure on reliability capital expenditures," the application states.

The application also notes that SDG&E expects to spend $54.8 million on reliability projects in 2011 and $65.6 in 2012.

When asked how much the overhaul of the Capistrano substation would cost, Cave said "in the millions."

SDG&E will submit its proposal to rebuild the Capistrano substation to the California Independent System Operator Corporation and Public Utilities Commission in the first quarter 2012. "We have to let them know we have some reliability issues and they have to agree," Cave said.

An informational open house about the Capistrano substation project will be held Nov. 16 at the.


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