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Opinion: RMWD Investments in Natural Gas Benefit Ramona

/in , /by /Ramona Sentinelby David Barnum

The Ramona Municipal Water District has received some inquiries from concerned customers regarding the impact of the SDG&E power outages on RMWD’s water system during fire season and COVID.

As many of us in Ramona are aware, RMWD purchases 100 percent of our water from the San Diego County Water Authority and the water is pumped nearly 1,000 feet “up the hill” to Ramona. During the last several years, RMWD has made several important investments in natural gas technology and emergency generators to provide a second source of power for pumping, improve water reliability, reduce pumping costs and protect Ramona in emergencies.

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San Diego County Supervisors Seek More COVID-Relief, Road Improvements, Other Programs in New Budget

/in , , /by /The San Diego Union Tribuneby Gary Warth

Programs to help renters facing eviction, additional homeless services, and new traffic signals are the additions that San Diego County supervisors are proposing for the budget for the new fiscal year. Supervisors recently heard two days of public testimony about the proposed $6.4 billion budget and are scheduled to deliberate and adopt the spending plan at their next meeting, scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday.

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Water Agencies Help Address California Energy Shortages

/in , , /by /Water News Networkby Ed Joyce and Mike Lee Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

Water agencies across San Diego County are doing their part to stabilize the state’s power grid during this week’s heatwave by generating hydropower and altering operations to trim electricity demands – and they are offering long-term solutions to reduce future energy shortages.

The California Independent System Operator issued a statewide Flex Alert from Sunday through Wednesday, calling for reduced electricity use in the afternoon and evening to limit power outages. Blackouts could affect hundreds of thousands of San Diego County residents, if extreme heat persists.

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Carlsbad Desalination Plant Cuts Output to Conserve Electricity Amid Heat Wave

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

The San Diego County Water Authority said Tuesday production has been cut back at the Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant to conserve electricity and prevent rolling blackouts during the statewide heat wave.

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SDG&E: Rolling Blackouts Averted Monday Thanks to Energy Conservation

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein

San Diego Gas & Electric was directed to begin rolling blackouts Monday that could have effected 100,000 customers, but the power crisis was averted at the last moment. “Rotating outages were averted in San Diego and southern Orange counties today, in part thanks to local residents and businesses heeding the call to cut back on energy usage amid a prolonged heat wave and exceptionally high energy demand,” the utility said in a statement.

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Living Coast Discovery Center Struggling to Survive During Pandemic

/in , /by /KPBS-FM/TVby John Carroll

One of San Diego County’s treasures is in trouble.

As with many organizations, the Living Coast Discovery Center in Chula Vista is closed because of COVID-19. It has had to lay off workers, but care for the animals continues and the funds to keep things going are drying up.

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Comments on Imperial Valley Water

/in , /by /The Desert Review (Imperial Valley)by Rusty Jordan

The recent decision regarding Michael Abatti’s appeal of the IID 2013 EDP confirms some most disturbing trends.

My experience has been to closely follow four water battles over the years and watch the courts. In the courts were three, Jordan vs Santa Barbara et al., Morgan QSA, and Abatti vs IID. What shines out is the bias of the courts for the government entities. If you think about the crazy positions of Democratic leadership in California, their long control of the legislative process, and the people they put into the courts — it’s no surprise. I was co-chairman of a water transfer battle in the 1980s in Arizona, that’s a story in itself.

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Water Utility Hero of the Week, Litsa Tzotzolis, San Diego County Water Authority

/in , , /by /Water News Network Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

This feature highlights water utility employees in the San Diego region working during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure a safe, reliable and plentiful water supply. The water industry is among the sectors that are classified as essential. Litsa Tzotzolis, San Diego County Water Authority Public Affairs Representative, is the Water Utility Hero of the Week.

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Water Authority Awarded $44.4 Million in Long-Running Dispute with LA Agency

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein Quoted: San Diego County Water Authority

A judge has awarded the San Diego County Water Authority $44.4 million in a final judgment of two lawsuits over rates paid to transport water supplies from 2011 to 2014.

The award, announced Friday, included $28.7 million in damages and interest to be paid by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, which controls the transport of water from the Colorado River.

The Water Authority had worked for more than a decade to resolve the dispute, which concerned San Diego’s independent supply of water from the river that was carried by Metropolitan Water’s aqueducts and pipelines.

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More Rolling Blackouts Ordered in California Amid Power Shortages and Searing Heat

/in , , /by /Los Angeles Timesby Leila Miller, Paul Duginski, Tony Barboza, Jack Dolan, Alex Wigglesworth

New rolling blackouts in parts of California were ordered Saturday night as power shortages continued because of an extreme heat wave. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said Saturday night it was beginning to rotate power outages affecting up to 250,000 customers in Northern and Central California. San Diego Gas & Electric said it also interrupted power to some customers but had restored all service by 7 p.m.

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