PG&E will build underground electricity distribution lines in Butte County to help prevent fires.
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. will build underground electric distribution power lines in Paradise, Magalia and other areas in rural Butte County to prevent wildfires like the deadly Camp Fire, utility officials said Wednesday.
Aaron Johnson, PG&E vice president of electric operations, announced the decision at a Paradise council meeting.
“We decided to rebuild in this way after a careful review of factors, town planning and safety considerations,” Johnson said in a statement. “This is just one of many ways we are trying to assist communities in their recovery.”
The Camp Fire, the most destructive and deadly wildfire in state history, decimated the town of Paradise and killed 85 people. Last week, investigators with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said that PG&E power equipment caused the Camp Fire.
Officials said Paradise’s urban design proved to be well suited for the undergounding project, which will include replacing 74 miles of damaged natural gas lines and burying elec
tric and gas infrastructure in the same trench.
Paradise’s transmission lines will not be part of the project, because they were not damaged by the blaze, officials said. Only the distribution lines will go underground.
Transmission lines are supported by tall metal towers and carry electricity across the state. Distribution lines are supported by shorter wooden poles and deliver electricity to neighborhoods and communities over a shorter distance. Distribution lines are the “final stage of electricity delivery” to homes and businesses in communities, according to PG&E.
The undergrounding process — which will come “at no additional cost” to area residents — is expected to take more than five years to complete because of the “amount of engineering, design and construction” required, PG&E officials said.
Crews plan to install temporary overhead service in neighborhoods where residents are actively rebuilding as they begin the underground work, officials said.
“Engineering an underground system requires designing the system around existing water, natural gas and drainage systems, as well as planning for future road widening and the possibility of a sewer system for Paradise,” officials said.
Transmission lines will not be part of the project. Only the distribution lines will go underground.