Electricity began flowing today through San Diego Gas & Electric's new high-voltage transmission line. The Otay-Metro Powerloop stretches 52 miles around San Diego County. SDG&E Vice President Jim Avery says the line will deliver much-needed power to rapidly growing areas in South San Diego.
Avery: Those substations will be able to tap into the capacity that this line will bring into those communities and allow those communities to continue to grow.
Avery also says the line will improve reliability and distribute energy more efficiently. About 10 miles of the line are buried underground near Old Town.
The project took a year-and-a-half to finish and cost $210 million. That cost is distributed statewide, with San Diego consumers paying about one tenth of the final price tag.
Officials say the line will provide enough energy to power 500,000 homes and businesses.
