Giant utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) moving ahead on an effort to bury about 10,000 miles of electric distribution power lines in a multiyear program to reduce fire risk in its highest-threat areas of service in northern and central California. The utility company says the undergrounding initiative is the largest such U.S. effort as a wildfire risk reduction measure.
Although there had been media reports of PG&E resisting broad-scope line burial because of its expense, the utility said July 21 it has now committed to a program estimated to cost at least $15 billion to $20 billion. The 10,000 miles is about 12% of the company’s overhead power line total.