PUC chief backs Sunrise Powerlink transmission line

Sempra Energy’s planned $1.72-billion power line to deliver electricity from renewable sources to Southern California cities was endorsed by the chairman of the state’s utility regulator.

The recommendation by Public Utilities Commission Chairman Michael Peevey, posted Tuesday on the commission’s website, rejects a conclusion last month by an administrative law judge that the project, called Sunrise Powerlink, isn’t needed and would add unnecessarily to power bills.

Sempra’s San Diego Gas & Electric utility provides power to 1.4 million homes and businesses in Southern California.

The company told California regulators last year that it probably would fall short of the state’s renewable-energy goals unless the line was in service by 2010.

Missing the goals could subject the company to fines of up to $25 million.

California lawmakers passed a measure in 2006 requiring private-sector utilities to get 20% of their electricity from renewable sources such as wind, solar and geothermal energy by 2010.

The 150-mile line would deliver power from proposed plants in the Imperial Valley to the San Diego area.

California needs Sunrise Powerlink to meet a related goal of cutting emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide from generating plants, Peevey wrote.

That represents a savings to customers of $100 million a year, he said.

The Public Utilities Commission will continue to take comments on the project through Tuesday and may vote as early as Dec. 4.