San Diego County / Southern California

The latest news and analysis covering water issues in the San Diego County region and Southern California.

What Will Become Of The Old Carlsbad Power Plant Site?

The seaside Encina Power Station, a Carlsbad landmark since the 1950s with its iconic boxy concrete building and 400-foot smokestack, has officially been retired to prepare for demolition. Owner NRG Energy Inc. switched off the old plant at 11:59 p.m. Dec. 11 and turned on its replacement. The new, smaller, more efficient “peaker” facility can […]

Water Department Refunds Over Billing Errors Have Skyrocketed

Over the past year, San Diego’s water department refunded over $650,000 to hundreds of customers who received unjustifiably high water bills. The payouts are another sign of how water customers were affected by bad bills from the city. Over 1,100 customers received refunds this year, meaning the city overcharged the average customer by more than […]

Plan To Raise Water Rates Voted Down By Santa Fe Irrigation District Board

A plan to raise rates by an average of 3 percent per year over the next three years was voted down Thursday, Dec. 20, by the Santa Fe Irrigation District Board of Directors. The 3-2 vote by the board followed an eight-month process that included a series of public meetings and a rate study prepared […]

Rain Might Spritz San Diego County on Christmas Day

There’s a chance that a Pacific storm will blow ashore on Christmas Eve and drop 0.10” to 0.25” of rain on parts of San Diego County by the end of Christmas Day, says the National Weather Service. And that system might be followed by a second storm a couple of days later. “The models don’t agree […]