NORTH COUNTY -- The California Public Utilities Commission has announced that it will hold a series of public meetings to examine alternatives to a controversial electrical transmission line that San Diego Gas & Electric Co. wants to build through Anza-Borrego Desert State Park and Ramona to metro San Diego.

The company has proposed building the $1.3 billion Sunrise Powerlink Project and completing it by 2010. The project has been met with stiff opposition from several environmental groups and homeowners.

As proposed, the 150-mile-long transmission lines would boost the region's power supply by 20 percent and connect with proposed solar and geothermal farms in the Salton Sea area that would tap the power of the sun and geysers, officials say.

Among the alternatives that have already been proposed are: using three alternative "southern routes" that would avoid Anza-Borrego and run through part of San Diego County near Interstate 8; generating power locally by replacing the aging power plants in Carlsbad and at the south end of San Diego Bay; building wind-energy projects in the eastern part of the county; and taking serious steps to economize energy.

The meetings are scheduled for:

- 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Feb. 5 at Doubletree Golf Resort, 14455 Penasquitos Drive, San Diego;

- 7 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6 at the San Vicente Inn, 24157 San Vicente Road, Ramona. Call (760) 789-8290; and

- 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 9 at City Hall, 43200 Business Park Drive, Temecula. Call (951) 693-3961.