The California Public Utilities Commission on Friday ordered Southern California Edison to stop construction work in Chino Hills on the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project and, separately, the CPUC's president ordered SCE to prepare alternatives to the current design and route.

The CPUC issued its order to SCE to halt work in response to an Application for Rehearing and Motion for Partial Stay filed by the City of Chino Hills regarding the CPUC's 2009 decision (D. 09-12-044) approving Segments 4 through 11 of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project. The CPUC determined that it is appropriate to stay its decision in order to preserve the status quo pending resolution of Chino Hills' Application for Rehearing. The stop work order is in effect until the CPUC's resolution of the Application for Rehearing, unless the CPUC subsequently chooses to modify the stay.

Separately, the CPUC President Michael R. Peevey, ordered SCE to prepare alternatives for CPUC consideration that would replace the approved design and route through Chino Hills, including the feasibility, cost, and timing for each alternative.

"The CPUC has heard from many Chino Hills residents who are unhappy with the transmission towers and lines running through their city and in extremely close proximity to homes," said President Peevey. "I have visited Chino Hills and seen the construction firsthand. I want to make sure we do all we can to address the concerns of the residents while balancing environmental impacts and cost needs of the state and SCE's ratepayers, and achieving the state's statutory requirement of 33 percent renewables by 2020."

Said Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon, "I commend my fellow Commissioners for considering the impact of the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project on this community. In my visit to Chino Hills, it was clear that the local impact issues of the transmission line warrant a review by this Commission."