SDG&E; Voices Safety Concerns Over Illegal Generators

The number of unauthorized electric generators in San Diego County is rising, increasing the danger that company workers could be injured or electrocuted, San Diego Gas & Electric executives say.

Many hospitals use their own authorized back-up generators to ensure that they have power for life-support systems in an outage, but businesses and apartment complexes are increasingly turning to generators to save money.

The problem, SDG&E; says, occurs when electrical workers are unaware of the generators or when they are improperly installed. A worker could be electrocuted if he stuck a screwdriver into an electric box he thought was dead.

Basic Concern Is Safety

SDG&E; executives believe the problem is becoming more common. In the past month, they say, their computers have tracked down three business using unauthorized generators. SDG&E; is able to track them down because generators are hooked up in such a way that unused power is channeled into SDG&E;’s electric grid, causing the meter to run backward and reduce the user’s bill.

“My basic concern is safety but not just for our own line crews. Even an electrician working in an apartment complex could be electrocuted,” said Karl Berlin, SDG&E;’s manager of distribution operations.

So far, no workers have been injured.

Berlin said the unauthorized generators could endanger firefighters because they might not be aware of one inside the building when they cut off power during a blaze.

Mandatory Penalties

A 1986 state law mandates penalties for utility customers who install generators without notifying their local utility.

Before customers can use their generators, SDG&E; must test the device to ensure that it will automatically disconnect from the main line during an outage, when company workers would be working on the line, said Jerre Smith, who is in charge of reviewing customer generators.

Under federal law, SDG&E; must pay customers for any electricity they feed into the grid from their generation. SDG&E; has fought that regulation, but Sharon Mays, manager of power contracts, said safety is the company’s main concern with the unauthorized smaller generators.

Contractors who sell and install generators should tell the buyer that the utility should be notified, Mays said.