Valley Road Runner
San Diego Gas Electric & Electric Co., (SDG&E) is in the midst of the replacement of 50 miles of natural gas pipeline that was laid in 1949, with several miles of the line to be replaced in Valley Center later this year.
The utility hopes to begin in August, if the County grants the needed permits in time.
This is making some landowners who had bad experiences with SDG&E’s power line replacement along Cole Grade Road—including the notorious dewatering of the Keys Creek area last year—highly uncomfortable.
Representatives of the utility, including, Kevin O’Beirne – major projects development manager; Santiago Meza – project engineer and Norm Kohls – project manager for this specific project, spoke to the Valley Center Community Planning Group Monday night. The meeting was virtual. This was an informational briefing, since the planning group has no authority over the utility.
The existing steel pipeline is coming to the end of its useful life after more than 70 years in the ground. The project is known as the Pipeline Safety Enhancement Plan (PSEP). Since 2012 more than 35 miles of new pipe have been placed and three miles of pipe have been strength tested.
The pipe runs from Rainbow down to Mission Valley Center. It somewhat parallels I-15, but predates the Interstate, which was built in the 1970s. It is one of two pipelines that brings 100% percent of the natural gas into the region. Ninety percent of natural gas in the state comes from out-of-state, while 90% used in San Diego County from outside the county. The pipeline is VC’s sole source of gas.
Completed PSEP projects include those in La Mesa, Santee, National City, El Cajon and the City of San Diego. The next communities where replacements are scheduled include the unincorporated county, where 11.2 miles will be replaced and 10.2 miles strength tested, plus Escondido, Poway and the City of San Diego.
