Regulators want to scale back PG&E's $6 billion proposal to bury power lines - KCRA Sacramento

CPUC wants to scale back PG&E's $6 billion power lines proposal

Regulators want to scale back PG&E's $6 billion proposal to bury power lines

Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is working to bury thousands of miles of power lines in high-risk areas over the next few years to prevent wildfires.

However, the company needs approval from state regulators to raise rates to pay for it, and regulators argue the ambitious plan will cost customers too much.

PG&E's proposed four-year budget includes spending nearly $6 billion to bury 2,000 miles of power lines by 2026. It would add about $3.40 to a typical residential bill each month.

Still, CEO Patti Poppe argues it will actually save money in the long run.

"$5.7 billion dollars will be saved if we bury these lines versus the annual maintenance of overhead lines and vegetation management," Pope said.

The regulatory agency that oversees PG&E, the California Public Utilities Commission, has said there are other more affordable ways to mitigate wildfire risk. And consumer advocacy organization, The Utility Reform Network, agrees.

"We're trying to balance getting the safest, greenest electricity and gas that we can get to our California customers at the lowest possible price," said Katy Morsony, a legislative and assistant managing attorney at TURN.

The CPUC is considering two alternatives to PG&E's plan. Instead of burying 2,000 miles of the electric grid, one scaled-back proposal would allow the company to bury 200 miles of lines and another would allow for 973 through 2026. In addition, they recommend insulating the rest of the lines with material that would offer more protection and reduce the risk of them sparking wildfires.

CPUC said it costs about $800,000 a mile to install a covered conductor compared to more than $3 million a mile to put those lines underground. CPUC could vote as early as Nov. 2.