CSAC and the League of California Cities have partnered to
support continued funding to move electric utility
infrastructure underground. Together, we oppose a proposal
from the Office of the Ratepayer Advocate (ORA) in the Public
Utilities Commission that would eliminate funding for utility
relocation projects in Pacific Gas and Electric’s (PG&E)
service area.
Under the current Rule 20A program, local governments accrue
credits from utility ratepayer funds that can be used to complete
utility undergrounding or relocation projects in conjunction with
other local projects. These projects have safety, aesthetic and
practical benefits for local governments completing
transportation improvements within the public right-of-way.
CSAC and the League have been working with PG&E to revise the
terms of the Rule 20A program for the last several years. Some
local agencies have put projects on hold while the terms of the
program are being reconsidered, which has unfortunately resulted
in a backlog of projects. Once finalized, CSAC and the League
believe that many jurisdictions will expeditiously proceed with
undergrounding projects which will help significantly reduce the
work credit backlog. If the ORA proposal is adopted, viable and
shovel-ready projects may be delayed or cancelled as funding
assumptions that were made during project planning are upended.
A joint letter from the League and CSAC urging the Public
Utilities Commission to maintain the program is available
here. CSAC urges counties that are planning to use Rule 20A
work credits for utility undergrounding projects to offer
comments at the upcoming public hearings in your communities:
CHICO
July 14, 2016, 6:00 pm
Manzanita Place
1705 Manzanita Avenue Chico, CA 95926
RICHMOND
July 18, 2016, 7:00 pm
Courtyard Richmond Berkeley
3150 Garrity Way Richmond, CA 94806
OAKLAND
July 19, 2016, 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm
Elihu Harris State Building – 2nd Floor, Room 2
1515 Clay Street Oakland, CA 94612
SAN FRANCISCO
July 20, 2016, 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm
Public Utilities Commission – Auditorium
505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102
SANTA ROSA
July 25, 2016, 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm
Steel Lane Community Center – Dohn Room
415 Steele Lane Santa Rosa, CA 95403
SAN BRUNO
July 26, 2016, 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm
San Bruno Library – Downstairs Room 701
Angus Avenue West San Bruno, CA 94066
SAN JOSE
July 27, 2016, 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm
San Jose Scottish Rite Center – Room 3
2455 Masonic Drive San Jose, CA 95125
SAN LUIS OBISPO
July 28, 2016, 1:00 pm & 6:00 pm
San Luis Obispo Library Community Room
995 Palm Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
