Dive Brief:
- The 73,000-plus acre King Fire, allegedly set by an arsonist, has forced the curtailment of hydroelectric generation because of burned or threatened transmission infrastructure.
- A Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) substation was burned, cutting off electricity delivery from its Sierra Nevada network of reservoirs. SMUD, however, was able to obtain alternative electricity supplies for its customers.
- A Placer County Water Agency (PCWA) hydroelectric generator and power lines at its Hell Hole Reservoir were threatened and energy was shut off when the fire passed north of it, reportedly taking out a Pacific Gas & Electric line serving the reservoir. The El Dorado Irrigation District (EID) temporarily shut down a water delivery system running from its Sierra Nevada reservoirs to its American River generating station until fire crews battled back flames that came within 8 feet of it.
Dive Insight:
SMUD is supplementing its generation with electricity purchased on the open market despite having been forced to evacuate employees in the fire region to its Sacramento headquarters.
The PCWA evacuated one employee and shut down its power generation in the fire's area but has not yet determined the extent of damages to its facilities and lines.
The EID evacuated 17 hydroelectric system headquarters employees, shut down its hydroelectric generation for a day, and is now removing burned trees that could fall into its water transportation system.
