Energy Project Approvals

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) hired Southwest Strategies to partner on the development of a community relations program to build support for and facilitate the construction of two new 230-kV transmission lines as part of a 52-mile project to deliver power from the Otay Mesa Power Plant to existing SDG&E substations. The line is located within the cities of San Diego, National City, Chula Vista and Santee and in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County, delivering enough electricity for more than 500,000 homes and businesses.

Southwest Strategies prepared and implemented a highly successful, integrated community relations program, which resulted in the unanimous support of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The first step in this comprehensive effort involved a tailored research program called a key opinion leader briefing and assessment. More than two dozen elected officials, government representatives, planning groups, regulatory agencies and business organizations were interviewed about the project.

Using the research results as a planning tool, Southwest Strategies facilitated a series of brainstorming sessions with representatives from SDG&E and key leaders to determine the most effective strategic approach for this effort. From these sessions, Southwest Strategies developed messages, indentified appropriate target audiences and worked with specific agencies and community groups to develop project partnerships.

From an execution standpoint, Southwest Strategies, together with the SDG&E team, unveiled the Otay-Metro Powerloop in a deliberate and strategic manner to build momentum for the project.

Community outreach to the residents and businesses along the route included door-to-door outreach, introductory letters, business and community appreciation events, a monthly e-newsletter and website updates, and a project hotline for customers. For its work associated with this project, Southwest Strategies received a Silver Bernays Award of Excellence for Community Relations from PRSA - San Diego.