Energy
Utilities yet to assess fire damage Southcentral electric utility managers have yet to be able to get surface access to Kenai Peninsula transmission lines damaged in the big Swan Lake wildfire. Preliminary surveys to date have been by air, so a realistic damage assessment has not been made. Meanwhile, the continued shutdown of the line that transmits Bradley Lake hydro power north is costing regional utilities because they use more natural gas to replace inexpensive hydro. Utilities briefed the Alaska…