San Diego plans to speed up utility undergrounding
SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego officials this week are expected to approve a plan that would accelerate efforts to bury utility lines underground across the city.
The new deal with San Diego Gas & Electric creates a citizens oversight panel for undergrounding projects, sets more specific timelines for projects and requires the utility to seek more ethnic and gender diversity in the contractors and suppliers it uses.
The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the City Council is scheduled to approve the new pact on Feb. 15.
While the plan aims to move along projects, city officials said residents shouldn’t expect undergrounding efforts to ramp up again until 2023 because it will take several months for SDG&E to incorporate the new policies.
San Diego has the largest utility undergrounding program in the state, according to the Union-Tribune.
Neighborhoods generally embrace undergrounding projects because they boost aesthetics, increase property values, reduce fire risk and ease the maintenance of utility wires.
Some neighborhoods, however, have rebelled against undergrounding because of construction hassles, the city’s inability to stick to schedules and unattractive utility boxes when projects are complete.
Related News
From Archive
- Two workers killed after trench collapses in Washington
- Staggering rise in trenching deaths spurs Department of Labor to enhance enforcement, oversight
- Ukraine lays out $750 billion postwar 'recovery plan' to restore water pipes, gas lines
- Kentucky governor commits $280 million in funding for clean water projects
- Utility & Communications Construction Update
- BJM Pumps Newest Submersible Pumps Designed for Superior Solids Handling
- Court rejects Mountain Valley Pipeline’s request for new panel of judges
- Two workers killed after trench collapses in Washington
- Federal investigation into oil spill finds Wyoming company failed to properly bury pipeline
- Kentucky governor commits $280 million in funding for clean water projects
Comments