PG&E reaches 1,500 miles of underground power lines milestone

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) has reached a significant milestone by installing and energizing 1,500 miles of underground power lines in high fire-threat districts since launching its undergrounding program in 2021. This initiative has reduced wildfire ignition risk on the undergrounded lines by approximately 98% and resulted in about 90% fewer outages for customers.

As of this week, the company has completed 325 miles of undergrounding, with communities such as Foresthill, Middletown, Apple Hill, Arnold, and Angwin now benefiting from the new underground power lines. PG&E has recently filed a 10-year Electrical Undergrounding Plan proposing to underground 5,000 miles of powerlines across more than 30 counties in Northern and Central California, aiming to further reduce wildfire risk and improve reliability for customers.

However, a recent California Public Utilities Commission Proposed Decision could reduce eligible undergrounding in PG&E’s plan from 5,000 miles to approximately 1,100 miles if adopted.

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