Trees Near Power Lines Can Be
Dangerous
Beat the Heat with Cool
Conservation Tips
New Power
Source Takes the Heat Off Pasadena
The Power of Planning
Etcetera...Etcetera
Noticias en Breve
WINTER RAINS PROMPTED UNUSUALLY HEAVY
GROWTH
in Pasadena's urban forest. Though the rains were
much needed, super-fast tree growth can cause branches to tangle with our city's
power lines, causing problems for our system and safety concerns for residents.
 PWP
specialists take care of trimming the trees in city parks and along city
sidewalks and medians. For trees on your own property, be sure you know where
all power lines are before starting any trimming, pruning or shaping. If your
tree is touching a power line, stop what you're doing and call a qualified
arborist who is specially trained for this dangerous work. (You can find one in
the yellow pages or call Pasadena Beautiful Foundation at 795-9704.)
For safety's sake, always assume all overhead lines are energized and never let
yourself or your tools touch a power line or any part of a tree that is touching
a power line. Never cut a tree branch that could fall into a power line and
never trim a tree that has a power line going through its canopy.
Reserve your seat by calling the PWP AnswerLine at 744-6970.
DONT SWEAT OVER HIGH POWER BILLS. Keep
your cool this summer with these energy-saving tips and incentives from Pasadena
Water and Power.
• Install a central air conditioner with a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating
(SEER) of 13 or higher. PWP offers rebates of up to $850 on the most efficient
models.
• Install an Energy Star-rated programmable thermostat to turn the air
conditioner off when you're not home or when you're sleeping. You'll also earn a
$30 PWP rebate.
• Install a whole house or solar attic fan to pull warm air out of your home.
PWP offers up to $300 in rebates.
• Install Energy Star dual-glazed windows and glass doors to cut the amount of
solar heat coming into your home. You can earn a PWP rebate of up to $1.25 per
square foot installed.
• Plant a shade tree on the south or west side of your home and save as much as
$25 per year in heating and cooling costs. PWP offers rebates on 37 different
varieties of shade trees.
JUST IN TIME FOR SUMMER,
Pasadena has a brand new source of clean, set-cost power with the
grand opening of the Magnolia Power Plant in Burbank. Located at 164 W. Magnolia
Blvd. and sponsored by the Southern California Public Power Authority, the
natural gas-fueled plant can produce up to 310 megawatts of power. What's more,
the new $234 million facility replaces a 1940s-era plant that served Burbank for
more than 60 years, doubling efficiency and slashing emissions by 80%.
PWP signed on to the cooperative project in June 2003 when Burbank first
proposed its construction. While the plant provides more energy than Burbank
needs, they opted for a larger facility because it achieves higher efficiency
ratings and lower lifetime fuel use and reduces air emissions. Burbank invited
other cities to take advantage of the plant's output and Pasadena quickly teamed
up with the cities of Anaheim, Burbank, Cerritos, Colton and Glendale. With an
investment of $36.6 million, Pasadena secured 14.8 megawatts of power and up to
19 megawatts during peak periods, which will certainly come in handy during
summer demand. Even better, output from the plant will cost us just 4 to 5¢ per
kilowatt hour - well below market rates - to help us keep rates low for our
customers.
PWP NOW HAS A COMPREHENSIVE 20-YEAR PLAN in
place to ensure the safety, reliability and efficiency of our power delivery
system for generations to come. Now in its 100th year, our power system spans
more than 23 square miles, serving more than 61,000 meters through a network of
substations, receiving stations, more than 14,000 poles and 440 miles of
overhead and underground conductors.
With expert assistance from R. W. Beck, our team evaluated every inch of the
system, developed criteria for judging whether the system is adequate and
reliable and set priorities for equipment repairs, replacements and upgrades.
The team also outlined when and where funding will be needed and whether
additional staff, training or technology would be required.
Overall the plan was crafted with an eye toward the future, ensuring that our
system keeps up with the city's growth and redevelopment, preserves Pasadena's
unique character and embraces technology, diversity and environmental
protection. The plan was also designed to support local business and industries,
nurture the city's economy, adapt to changes in the energy industry and continue
the city's efforts to underground its utility lines.
Unanimously approved by the city council, the plan also incorporates comments,
suggestions and wisdom from our major stakeholders and customers throughout the
community.
PWP is drafting a flexible, multi-million dollar funding plan to be presented to
the council this summer. In the meantime, other repairs have been approved
without delay, including replacing some of our older underground equipment
vaults, cable and electrical switches for the safety of our crews and the
public.
Watch for progress!
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