Imperial Valley press., 1923-11-24
HALF A MILLION
TO BE EXPENDED
IMPROVING Line
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c. d. Warner, right-of-way agent of
the Southern Sierras Power Com
pany has been working with gang
through the mountains for the
past three weeks, surveying the
right of way for the high power
Transmission line.
Control Acquired In 1916
The Holton Power Company
which thus becomes merged in the
Southern Sier-as, was originally
formed for the purpose of supplying
the valley with electric service,
generated by steam and By hydro
plants at Holtville. Intereonnection
with The Southern Sierras was es-
tabiished by the Coachella Ice and
Electric Company, which built &
line from The Southern Sierras ter
minal at Banning, and the Holton
Power Company became thereaftei
a distribution system its generating
plants bt.hg unaDle TO supply the
rapidly growing demand, and being
operated thencGfoiGh only for stand,
by purpose.
Control of the local company was
acquired on January s, 1916 by the
Nevada California Power Company,
also controlling The Southern Sic
rras, but was operated as separ-
ate and distinct company, buying
power at wholesale from The South
ern Sierras for distribution in the
local territory. s
While more than 100000 has
been expended by the Holton Pow
cr Company during this second
phase Of its existence, on rebuilding
and making extensions to its local
distribution system, ii became ap-
parent that the real solution of the
question of service was an addi-
tional source Of electric energy feed
ing the valley from divergent di-
lection, involving large investments
which the Holton Power Company,
owing to low earnings, was unable
10 command.
Longest Line in World
Cheap hydro-electric power for all
Southern California is at present
practically ~all generated in the
Sierras hundreds of miles distant
from the points of delivery. The
local situation owing to wind storms,
lightning and washouts of the
Coachella and Imperial Valleys,
makes this the most difficult terri
tory in the United States to serve
electrically. These conditions not
only increase liability to iRterrup-
tioms but impose serious difficulties
and delays in the location and re-
pair Of the breaks and arrangements
back of them.
So long as Imperial Valley is de-
pendent on a transmission line from
san Bernardino through Coachella
Valley, liability to prolonged inter
ruption cannot be escaped. Three
plans have been considered for re-
medying this situation "a line from
San Bernardino south into San Die
90 County and Imperial Valley by
way of Temecula and Warner ,:
Ranch; a heavy investment in q
large standby steam plant in the
valley itself; OF interconneetion witt
system having large generating
capacity located at tidewater souti
of Los Angeles. This last was thu
plan adopted.
Intereonnection with the San Die
90 Consolidated at Rincon by a di
rect line to IL Centre will Aurnls.
ample power 1T all times for stand
by and emergency service i'll The
valley.
While il is not expected = tina
interruptions viii be wholly dom
away with, they will be of triflinl
duration, except in the comparative
" rare case of both lines-tha
from Rincon and that from San
Bernardino-being in trouble at thu
same time.
Material and equipment are being
ordered and actual construction
work will begin as soon as deliv
cries will permit. To complete th'
long line will take approximately si'
months.
1t is understood that no change il
rates is expected to follow this in
| creased service.
The consolidation of the two corr
panies involves no change in the
local organization, but will simplify
operations and accounting and in al
way improve the service in the val