PG&E proposes burying nearly 500 miles of Central Coast power lines
A PG&E map shows the Avila Beach undergrounding project along San Luis Bay Drive, which is expected to be finished in December. Courtesy of PG&E
Proposal includes 91 miles in San Luis Obispo County as part of 10-year, 5,000-mile plan
– Pacific Gas and Electric Company is proposing to move nearly 500 miles of power lines underground on the Central Coast, including 91 miles in San Luis Obispo County, as part of a 10-year plan to reduce wildfire risk and outages, according to the utility.
The utility filed its proposed 10-Year Electrical Undergrounding Plan with the California Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. The plan would place about 5,000 miles of electric distribution lines underground from 2028 to 2037 in high wildfire-risk areas across more than 30 Northern and Central California counties.
If approved, the proposed Central Coast mileage would include 157 miles in Santa Cruz County, 139 miles in Monterey County, 91 miles in San Luis Obispo County, and 81 miles in Santa Barbara County, according to PG&E.
The utility says undergrounding can reduce ignition risk by nearly 98% and result in about 90% fewer outages on lines moved underground. PG&E estimates that completing the 5,000 miles would save customers about $6 billion in vegetation management, operations, and maintenance costs over the life of the lines, and that the plan would deliver long-term benefits valued at $117 billion.
“Placing powerlines underground provides the most effective way to reduce wildfire risk and enhance reliability for customers within High Fire-Threat Districts,” said Peter Kenny, PG&E chief delivery officer and electric transmission and distribution senior vice president. “A 10-year plan allows us to develop and execute projects with increased efficiency, which translates into cost savings for customers, all while delivering enhanced safety and reliability to the hometowns we are privileged to serve.”
The utility says it uses data analytics and risk modeling to decide where undergrounding will provide the greatest benefit. Where undergrounding is not the best fit, it may install strengthened poles, covered power lines, and other overhead upgrades.
The state energy safety office will review whether the plan substantially increases reliability and reduces wildfire risk. If the plan is approved, PG&E will submit it with an application to the California Public Utilities Commission requesting conditional approval of the plan’s costs.
PG&E plans to complete more than 1,900 miles of undergrounding and about 2,000 miles of overhead system upgrades in high wildfire-risk areas by the end of 2027. With the proposed plan and additional overhead work, the utility expects to underground or upgrade more than 11,000 miles of power lines in high wildfire-risk areas by the end of 2037, subject to regulatory approval.
“Our customers deserve safer, more reliable energy service at the lowest possible cost,” said Matt Pender, PG&E undergrounding and system hardening vice president. “This plan continues our progress in delivering exactly that, making long-term investments that reduce wildfire risk, improve reliability and create savings over time.”
PG&E is currently moving power lines underground along San Luis Bay Drive in Avila Beach to reduce wildfire risk, with work expected to be finished in December.
The complete filing, including a forecasted county workplan list, is available at pge.com/eup.
