Up here in Northern California, when we have high wind events under dry conditions, PG&E shuts the power down to preclude trees taking out the lines and starting fires. With 100mph wind gusts down there, I really don't understand whey they would not do the same unless the area is so dependent upon water pumps they couldn't do it.
In that latter case, I would think it wise to be able to drive those pumps with diesel engines.
Nope. Democrats hate deisel. Ask them.
Because SCE didn't get sued like PGE? /s
Seriously, though...
I saw a cute little blonde city council member - new to the job in December, she said - where she was voicing her exasperation at the bureaucracy to some media pundit. I think she’s onto something, but that she has no idea how bad it is.
Without spending time on something I care next to nothing about, I believe that statewide it is policy to cut the grid in the event of a weather event which may threaten ‘faults’ especially in extreme drought areas.
I believe it comes down to one of 2 things to explain why the power grid was still energized at the time of the Santa Ana event:
1. Bureaucratic largesse and/or incompetence,
2. Intent.
Regardless, 1 + 1 = 2. The odds are extremely high that these electrical faults caused at least the initial fire(s).