Power line had increase in current on day of Eaton Fire, California utility says
Source: NBC News
Jan. 28, 2025, 11:52 AM EST / Updated Jan. 28, 2025, 1:00 PM EST
High-voltage power lines saw a temporary surge in electrical current in the area where the deadly Eaton Fire is believed to have started following a "fault" on a line elsewhere in the region's transmission network, Southern California Edison said Monday.
While the fault, or disturbance, occurred several miles away on a power line that does not traverse Eaton Canyon, it was detected at 6:11 p.m. on Jan. 7, the utility said in a filing with state public utilities regulators. That was only minutes before authorities received initial reports of a wind-fueled fire originating in the canyon at 6:18 p.m.
"The fault on this geographically distant line caused a momentary and expected increase in current on SCE's transmission system, including on the four energized lines" in Eaton Canyon, the utility said, adding, "The current increase remained within the design limits and operating criteria for these circuits and, as intended, did not trigger system protection on these lines."
The cause of the Eaton Fire, which raced down the canyon and ravaged the foothill communities of Altadena and Pasadena, remains under investigation. Southern California Edison is at the center of a wave of negligence and wrongful death lawsuits after videos taken by residents showed the flames illuminating the base of one of the utility's electrical towers clustered on a hillside, just as hurricane-force Santa Ana winds tore through the region.
Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/weather/wildfires/power-line-increase-current-day-eaton-fire-california-utility-says-rcna189564
LauraInLA
(1,582 posts)moonshinegnomie
(2,977 posts)the other alternative would be the power companies just shutting off power to huge areas anytime a storm is predicted. companies will only operate if they can make money. if you bankrupt socal ed no one will want to operate a power company in california which means a government takeover. and taxpaers will still be on the hook for any future disasters
LauraInLA
(1,582 posts)systems taking over from at least portions of SoCalEdison. There are complaints about LADWP and Burbanks municipal systems, but they function much better. Im still curious why San Diegos City Council voted down a municipal system after the city voted for it.
Im wildly ignorant about all this, but could there be a breakup of SoCalEdison like there was of the Bells?
groundloop
(12,450 posts)If there was a fault in a distant area it's not surprising that current increased in other areas to take up the slack. This certainly doesn't sound like a smoking gun.
Crowman2009
(2,929 posts)BTW, TMT is an abbreviation for The Middle-Age Terfs. The formerly progressive YouTube channel that has recently decided to follow the right-wing grift out in the open.
SunSeeker
(54,288 posts)Lawyers for Alta Dena homeowners have video from a gas station showing a bright flash from arcing power lines at the transmission tower where the Eaton fire started, minutes before flames exploded that horribly windy night.
https://ktla.com/news/local-news/new-surveillance-footage-shows-possible-start-of-eaton-fire-attorneys-allege/
Crowman2009
(2,929 posts)...the homeless.
Response to SunSeeker (Reply #3)
moonshinegnomie This message was self-deleted by its author.
moonshinegnomie
(2,977 posts)SunSeeker
(54,288 posts)mainer
(12,257 posts)Too many fires are caused by above-ground power lines that fall or spark.