A grassroots group fighting a plan to build power lines through North County back country is hosting a three-day bash in September to raise money for their battle against an energy company.

Dozens of musicians and comedians will lend a hand at the festival, dubbed Ranchita Rocks and scheduled for Sept. 28-30, which organizers hope will add money to their war chest for the fight against the Sunrise Powerlink project, an electric superhighway.

San Diego Gas & Electric Co.'s $1.3 billion Sunrise proposal would put high-power lines across the county.

The company has said that the new lines are needed to keep up with the county's growing electrical demand, prevent the region from suffering summer blackouts and to bring state-mandated "green" solar- and wind-created electricity to the region.

Critics say the up to 150-foot-tall power lines would scar the Anza Borrego desert and backcountry and are unnecessary.

Money from the concert will go to the fund conceived last year by a coalition calling themselves Communities United for Sensible Power, coalition member Diane Conklin said. The organization is made up of members of San Diego County communities fighting the project.

"I'm so excited about this (festival)," said Conklin, a Ramona resident. "This is grassroots in action."

Conklin said the coalition has raised $500,000 for the fund over the last year, most of it in the last few months, but fear it will not be enough for the legal and political battles they anticipate.

The California Public Utilities Commission is scheduled to decide in January whether to grant permission to build the line.

Public relations consultant Chris Wahl is the designated spokesman for Community Alliance for the Sunrise Power Link, and he said the project has the support of many local, state and federal politicians.

"Typically, projects like this do generate people that are opposed," Wahl said. "The important thing to remember is they represent a small fraction of the larger community."

Contact staff writer Teri Figueroa at (760) 631-6624 or tfigueroa@nctimes.com.