Electric System Reliability
For more than eight years, EPI has worked with SDG&E as part of their Reliability Team. EPI has completed the design of a variety of reliability projects including, but not limited to cable replacements, new overhead and underground switch installations, DOE and SF6 switch replacements, Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS), overhead booster and ground bank removals, overhead to underground conversions. In addition, our team has also worked directly with the utility’s Construction Standards Team to implement and install more that 13 new types of equipment to meet their changing needs.
New equipment includes innovative switch gear switches, programable relay switches, SCADA submersible switches, MVI’s and 2OOA/6OOA 12kV terminating cabinets. As part of the Reliability Team, we continue to support a resilient and reliable electrical grid for SDGE.
New Business
Over the course of the past twelve years, EPI has worked with SDGE’s Planning Department in support of New Business projects. Our team has collaborated with Builders, Land Developers, and various City and County Agencies on behalf of their projects. Said projects include Master Planned Communities, Single Family and Multi-Family Subdivisions, Affordable and Senior Housing projects, School Districts sites, Commercial and Retail Developments plus City and County Redevelopment projects. Our team has provided management, utility coordination, and applicant design services for housing and development communities in San Diego and Orange County. This includes over 50,000 residential tots/units and approximately 1,000,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. As the Liaison for the new projects, our work with SDGE requires us to complete Project Submittal Requests, Utility Designs, Load Studies, Distribution Planning Worksheets, Fuse Request, Gas Sizing Requests, Permit Processing, Environmental Review forms, and Land Rights processing for easements; etc. The process involves working on aft types of underground electric and gas facilities, overhead pole line relocations and conversions, and transformer vault designs. Having excellent working relations with the SDG&EPlanning Department and other internal SDG&E Departments has made for a rewarding experience for all parties involved.
Overhead to Underground Conversion
EPI has designed numerous OH to UG Conversions throughout San Diego County. As an example, for the City of San Diego Block 4Y project, our team provided electrical design services for the Dry Utilities Undergrounding Program. This was a “20SD Conversion” which is a negotiated agreement between SDG&E and the City and approved by the CPUC. This project involved the replacement of overhead electric facilities with new underground electrical services for the conversion of 405 residences, one apartment complex, and one commercial mall in the Block 4Y area (San Diego Skyline Area). The first task involved all the field investigations which included surveying all private commercial and residential service meters, and all utility poles that were going to be removed. The second task required the design and development of all the deliverables including Trench & Conduit Plans, Cable Plans – Single Lines, Cable Poles, Removal from Service Drawings, Service Worksheets, creating all the DBLs (Design by Location) in the SDG&E DPSS program, Right of Entry letters and 9 easements. EPI led the design and coordination with multiple communication companies and assembled a construction package for bid. The bid set includes the Conversion Package, the Communication joint trench work, City Designed Street lights, City Designed ADA sidewalk curb ramps, and street resurfacing improvements.