SDG&E’s proposed Golden Pacific Powerlink, a major high-voltage transmission project that has become a flashpoint for East County and backcountry communities.

The proposed 500-kilovolt line would run from SDG&E’s Imperial Valley Substation toward a new substation near the decommissioned San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. East County Magazine reported that the preliminary route would cross Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and other parts of San Diego and Riverside counties, with some structures estimated at 150 to 200 feet tall.

For Santee readers, the immediate issue is not a route through town, but the broader East County question: how much infrastructure burden inland and backcountry communities should carry for regional power reliability, wildfire planning and long-term grid needs. The source article also notes that CAISO’s transmission planning has projected San Diego County ratepayers would cover about 9 percent of costs, while SDG&E says project-specific transmission costs are still being developed.

The project remains a proposal, and the California Public Utilities Commission would ultimately evaluate routes and environmental impacts. SDG&E has scheduled in-person open houses later this month and in October, with stakeholder feedback open through early November, according to East County Magazine.

Reported on August 12, 2026

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/08/10/that-big-transmission-line-sdge-wants-to-build-will-cost-about-1-62b

https://www.gridstatus.io/live/caiso

https://www.sce.com/business/smart-energy-solar/solar-for-business/grid-interconnections/california-independent-system-operator

County Supervisors to hear presentation on Golden Pacific Powerlink on Aug. 18, 2026: Two alternate routes also raise concerns