Some Laguna Beach residents could soon see less wires hanging in their local skyline as Southern California Edison officials are burying power lines throughout the city – but utility wires, like phone and cable, will remain.
City officials say the move to bury 11 miles of electrical lines in high fire risk areas will help mitigate blazes beginning next year.
During the Sept. 22 meeting, Councilmember Bob Whalen said it’s too much work for the city to do alone, estimating the cost to be $40 to $50 million.
We wouldn’t be able to do this level
“We wouldn’t be able to do this level of work that Edison is doing on our own, it’s just too expensive, it’s too comprehensive.”
The undergrounding of power lines are part of Southern California Edison’s Targeted Undergrounding program (TUG). It is funded under the Southern California Edison general rate case and is approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, according to the staff report.
According to Southern California Edison Senior Advisor Ray Ravith Pok, most of Laguna is in a high fire risk area. He also said the Targeted Undergrounding Program focuses on Cal Fire and California Public Utility Commission high fire risk areas.
It’s really the areas that we are limited
“It’s really the areas that we are limited to target our undergrounding,” Pok said at the meeting.
There are five projects within the 11 miles of planned undergrounding, with three of them being along the Pacific Coast Highway.
The Agate Circuit Project will install about 1.5 miles of undergrounding infrastructure and will be near the Pacific Coast Highway, and residential and wildlife areas. It is currently in the permitting process, according to Southern California Edison’s presentation at the Sept. 22 meeting.
Additionally, the Artist Circuit project will have about
Additionally, the Artist Circuit project will have about 1.3 miles of undergrounding located along the Pacific Coast Highway. According to the Southern California Edison presentation, this project is currently in design and the permitting process.
The last project along the Pacific Coast Highway is the Kewamee Circuit project and will bring about 1.6 miles of undergrounding near residential and wildlife areas. It is currently in design and the permitting process.
Towards Aliso Viejo, the Rubin Circuit project will install about 3.43 miles of undergrounding. The targeted area includes residential and wildlife areas. It is currently in-design.
Finally, the Acres Circuit project is located near
Finally, the Acres Circuit project is located near Top of the World and Canyon Acres in residential and wildlife areas. It will bring about 2.85 miles of undergrounding, and it is currently in design.
Southern California Edison’s Targeted Undergrounding Program Manager Jeana Hurst said the Acres project has been difficult for Southern California Edison due to impacts from the undergrounding would have on residents at Top of the World, but they are looking to reduce their impact in the area.
The projects will only take down Southern California Edison overhead electric lines while communication lines such as telephone, cable and internet lines will remain.
Mayor Mark Orgill asked if the communication companies
Mayor Mark Orgill asked if the communication companies could partner with Southern California Edison for undergrounding, but Pok said the companies don’t have funding for wildfire mitigation, adding the Targeted Undergrounding program budgets about $4 million per mile of undergrounding.
“The communications companies just don’t really have the re
Pok said a rule 20 district or assessment would require communication companies to participate because it requires all electric and communication lines to be underground in a specific area.
However, Acting Public Works Director Tom Perez said creating those districts would take too much time because the five projects have to be completed by the end of 2028. He also said there’s a chance the city will lose the opportunity to save money by completing the five projects in one trench if they were to create the districts.
City Manager Dave Kiff said the city could
City Manager Dave Kiff said the city could look into the scope of communication lines located within the projects to see if there are opportunities.
Construction for the undergrounding will include excavation, trenching and asphalt restoration, according to the presentation. It will also require vault, manhole or conduit installation. There is also a potential of power outages during the process.
Laguna Beach Capital Program Manager Pierre Sawaya said five large districts within the city still have remaining overhead wires, including North Laguna, South of Downtown, South Laguna, Upper Bluebird and Top of the World.
Sawaya also said there’s currently three undergrounding projects
Sawaya also said there’s currently three undergrounding projects at Woods Cove, West Street and Fairview/La Brea.
According to Sawaya, Woods Cove has completed civil underground construction and aims to have poles and wires come down by the end of the year. West Street is primarily done with construction whereas Fairview/La Brea is still undergoing construction.
According to Sawaya, the city last estimated 60% of the town has underground power lines.
Councilmember Sue Kempf said she hopes undergrounding efforts will help with fire insurance at some point because many residents are losing their insurance due to high fire risk areas – a scenario homeowners throughout California increasingly find themselves in.
Pok said Southern California Edison has mailed out
Pok said Southern California Edison has mailed out notices to inform residents of impacts and there will be an additional notice sent out once the projects get closer to breaking ground.
Lee also said that Southern California Edison will have an information booth at the Laguna beach classic car show on Oct. 4 to engage with the community.
Southern California Edison Government Relations Manager Kelly Lee said the five projects are Southern California’s biggest undergrounding project in Orange County.
In the County of Orange, it is our
“In the County of Orange, it is our largest investment in targeted undergrounding, and as you know, it does mitigate wildfire and ensure a resilient and reliable grid.”
Lauren Contreras is a Voice of OC Tracy Wood Reporting Fellow. You can reach her at laurencontreras615@gmail.com.
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