California fires not threatening power grid - CAL ISO

LOS ANGELES, May 6 (Reuters) - A wildfire in Santa Barbara County on Wednesday was not threatening major high-voltage transmission power lines on the California electricity grid, said the California Independent System Operator.

The Cal ISO operates the grid, which transits 80 percent of the power used in California. A fire in Santa Barbara County caused Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to declare a state of emergency on Wednesday evening. [ID:nN06305093]

"The grid is not threatened," said Stephanie McCorkle, spokeswoman for the Cal ISO.

While the major high-voltage lines that carry power throughout the state were not threatened on Wednesday evening, distribution lines that carry power to homes and businesses in Santa Barbara are near the fires, McCorkle said.

Southern California Edison, a subsidiary of Edison International (EIX.N) is the utility that serves Santa Barbara. (Reporting by Bernie Woodall)