San Diego
San Diego Gas & Electric’s distribution system suffered more than $1 million in damage during one of the strongest wind storms to hit the county in 20 years, according to a report released by SDG&E; Tuesday.
Rain and high winds, with gusts exceeding 60 m.p.h., that began Jan. 17 were blamed for knocking down and shorting out lines that kept more than 400,000 SDG&E; customers without power during a 30-hour period, the report stated.
A total of 421 circuit interruptions were reported between 6 a.m. Jan. 17 and 9 p.m. Jan. 19. At the height of the storm early Monday morning, 70 company repair crews aided by 11 hired crews and 18 tree-trimming crews were out trying to restore power to 76 circuits, the report stated.
SDG&E; employees in the customer information center received more than 48,000 phone calls Sunday and Monday.
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