Undergrounding Overhead Powerlines

3/03/25: Governor Newsom requests the two utility companies providing power to the communities of Pacific Palisades & Altadena,  SCE & LA DWP

Edit:   SCE & LA DWP.   (Note while many media outlets repeat this quote concerning a Thursday, February 27th letter Governor Newsom sent to "Newsom, a Democrat, wrote to Edison International President Pedro Pizarro as well as to Los Angeles Department of Water and Power CEO Janisse Quiñones and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass "- the full details of the letter were initially not visible but a March 27 2025 Press Release included a link.  gov.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Pizzaro-letter.pdf)   

Gavin Newsom calls on SoCal utilities to bury their power lines - E&E News by POLITICO

Gavin Newsom calls on SoCal utilities to bury their power lines - Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

“It is critical this plan incorporates the undergrounding of new electric distribution equipment to the extent feasible and should also consider how this work can be done most cost-effectively and quickly,”

2/09/25 Hidden Hills receives $1.3M to convert to support the undergrounding of high-voltage power lines in wildfire-prone from a local Congressman $1.3M Federal Grant Awarded for Fire Safety in Hidden Hills - Hidden Hills

Mayor Larry Weber expressed his gratitude to Congressman Sherman for his continued support and emphasized the importance of securing federal and state funding to reach the City’s goal of undergrounding the approximately 420 remaining utility poles. “Hidden Hills is a unique city with no businesses and, therefore, no sales tax revenue. It is essential that we partner with state and federal agencies to fund these crucial fire safety improvements,” said Mayor Weber.

The Rule 20 Annual Program Reports by Investor-Owned Utilities - is current to 2020:

Since the late 1960’s,

• the CPUC’s undergrounding programs have contributed to the new construction and overhead to underground conversion of over 73,500 miles of distribution lines cumulatively.
• 33 percent of the 220,590 miles of distribution lines across the state are underground.

California Public Utilities Commission's (CPUC) Rule 20 is the tariff that governs utility undergrounding of overhead wires at the request of third parties (e.g., local governments, businesses, and residential customers)  

Under Rule 20, undergrounding projects are financed depending on whether Rule 20A, Rule 20B or Rule 20C apply

• Utility rate money
• Combined rate funds and local tax proceeds
• Private funds 

CPUC Undergrounding Programs Description

Because ratepayers contribute most if not all the costs of Rule 20A programs through utility rates, the projects must be in the public interest, meaning they must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead lines;
• Involve a street or road with a high volume of public traffic;
• Benefit a civic or public recreation area or area of unusual scenic interest;
• Be listed as an arterial street or major collector as defined in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) Guidelines.

If an area is not eligible for Rule 20A or if the local government cannot or chooses not to rely on the Rule 20A allocation process, Rule 20B allows rate funds to subsidize an undergrounding project.

Rule 20C enables individual property owners to pay for undergrounding electric lines and equipment if neither Rule 20A nor 20B applies.

Southern California Edison's perspective of undergrounding is

• "We support undergrounding because it provides substantial aesthetic benefits to local communities."  Rule 20 Underground Conversions

• Rule 20A projects are paid for by all SCE customers and ratepayers, not just those who live in locations where facilities will be undergrounded. 

• City and county governments choose these projects, using a process that includes public participation.  

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