Utah Power expects it will have to turn off power temporarily to sections of southeastern Sandy this summer, in accordance with a plan approved Tuesday by the Utah Public Service Commission.
The plan is essentially the same one that has been in effect for several years, spelling out when the company can shut off electricity."The main difference," Utah Power spokesman Dave Eskelsen said, "is that we have been much stronger in our voice of warning about the possibility of intentional outages. As we have watched our system during the last few weeks, during the time when it's been 95, 97 degrees, we are at the ceiling of our capacity when both generators are used."
The generators Eskelsen referred to are backups the utility has been using to help supply power to parts of Sandy while a battle has raged over Utah Power's move to build a new substation at 1929 E. Dimple Dell Road (10600 South). Some residents oppose the move, arguing that Utah Power instead should beef up its Dumas substation in Draper so it can more adequately supply Sandy.
Utah Power asked the PSC for permission to institute the temporary blackouts if necessary, and following a hearing on Wednesday, the commission agreed.