SDG&E lobbyists to local politicians:  "When we want your opinion, we'll tell you what it is."  Related story: see SDG&E's "You Burn, We Earn" Fire Prevention Policy.

In today's San Diego Union Tribune, reporter Jeff McDonald revealed that SDG&E's lobbyists were the ghostwriters for six letters of endorsement from politicians urging a "yes vote" in favor of a plan to shut off power to rural homes.

At issue is a proposal by SDG&E to shut off power during high Santa Ana winds in order to reduce fire risks caused by the utility's faulty power lines - power lines that are responsible for some of the worst fires in San Diego County history.

UCAN opposes the plan. On March 27, 2009 we submitted 37 pages of expert testimony showing that deliberately shutting off power during a Santa Ana actually increases the risk of fire. And because many rural buildings use well water, it puts homeowners and firefighters at risk of having no way to fight a fire.

Nevertheless, six local politicians who have never examined the evidence -- or attended a hearing -- signed their names to letters written by SDG&E in favor of the proposal. It is noteworthy that none of these politicians actually represent backcountry voters.

SDG&E's motive: limit legal liability.

In November of 2007, Cal Fire - the state firefighting authority - determined that the Witch Creek and Rice Canyon fires, which began the week of Oct. 21 and destroyed 1,350 homes, were sparked by faulty SDG&E power lines. SDG&E has refused to fix its faulty lines, preferring to shut power off to its customers instead. At this time, SDG&E is being sued for hundreds of millions of dollars in fire-related damages. SDG&E's legal strategy has been to change the law, and to intimidate fire victims by filing cross-claims against former customers for not maintaining homes that are safe from the fires that are caused by SDG&E power lines.

SDG&E's dollars earn support letters

Getting political support for the plan from educated voters and politicians has been extremely difficult for the utility, even though its parent company, Sempra Energy, has donated more than $3.2 million to political groups and candidates last year, according to the California Secretary of State's Office.    In addition to UCAN's opposition,  backcountry communities have united against the proposal and have been joined by the local water districts, firefighters, telecommunications companies and school districts.     All have cited unanticipated complications that will arise if SDG&E's plan is adopted. 

In order to combat the strong, unified opposition,  SDG&E sought to find some high-placed allies.  On the eve of a crucial vote before the County Board of Supervisors, SDG&E solicited support from two classes of local politicians: those who have taken money from SDG&E, and those the utility were deemed as being agreeable (i.e. ill-informed or naive).

SDG&E's lobbyists wrote the support letters and told the politicians to sign them.

What's unbelievable is that six of them actually agreed to do it. They are:

La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid (Read more at judicalwatch.org)

El Cajon Mayor Mark Lewis

Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler

San Diego City Council Member Marti Emerald

San Diego City Council Member Tony Young

San Diego City Council Member Ben Hueso

The San Diego city council members Emerald, Young, and Hueso, while available to SDG&E lobbyists, were "unavailable" for comment on their support of SDG&E, which, incidentally, is being sued by the San Diego City Attorney for fire damages.

La Mesa Mayor Art Madrid, to his credit, was brave enough to talk on the record about the letter that SDG&E wrote and he signed.   Mr. Madrid denies being a toady for SDG&E, saying in the Union Tribune "I am not a lackey." According to the article, Mayor Madrid, signs letters from lobbysists all the time, but in this case he wasn't happy taking dictation from SDG&E, so he changed two words. We aren't sure what to think of Mr. Madrid's get-tough edits other than to suggest he look up the definition of the word lackey.

The Chairwoman of the County Board of Supervisors, Dianne Jacob, says she is not surprised.

"This is the way this utility has done business. It's disappointing, getting letters at the eleventh hour from elected officials that have no direct interest in the issue and never bothered to attend the hearings."

As for UCAN's Executive Director, Michael Shames, "This is pretty typical stuff by SDG&E. Far too common. I'm glad that County Supervisor Jacob had the courage to call her colleaques on this unseemly practice."

Related Stories

SDG&E's dirty secret: arm-twisting and high-voltage lobbying

Blaming the Victim: When you burn, SDG&E earns

UCAN seeks to black out SDG&E's de-energizing proposal