Utility to install underground power lines during Paradise, California rebuild
As the Town of Paradise and surrounding California areas rebuild from the Camp Fire, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will install underground electric distribution power lines.
“As part of our commitment to help this community recover and to harden our electric system to protect against wildfires, PG&E has decided to build our electric distribution system underground in the Town of Paradise and in some of the surrounding areas like parts of Magalia,” Aaron Johnson, vice president of electric operations at PG&E, said at a special meeting of the town council. “We decided to rebuild in this way after a careful review of factors, town planning, and safety considerations. This is just one of many ways we are trying to assist communities in their recovery.”
The effort stems from PG&E’s desire to replace 74 miles of damaged Paradise natural gas lines, which provides an opportunity for joint trenching for both electric and gas infrastructure.
PG&E will simultaneously install temporary overhead service where it is needed to meet individual and neighborhood service as people rebuild and as it begins undergrounding electric service.
Paradise transmission lines will not be part of the project because they were not damaged in the fire.
