PG&E 10-year undergrounding plan faces California Energy Safety review
PCG•PG&E filed a 10-year plan for regulatory review that targets moving about 5,000 miles of distribution lines underground from 2028 to 2037, mainly in high wildfire-risk areas. The company forecasts 98% lower ignition risk, 90% fewer outages on undergrounded lines and $117 billion in long-term benefits.
1. Plan enters review
PG&E filed its 10-year electrical undergrounding plan with California’s Office of Energy Infrastructure Safety. The proposal targets moving about 5,000 miles of distribution lines underground from 2028 to 2037, mainly in high wildfire-risk areas.
2. Forecast benefits
PG&E forecasts the plan would reduce ignition risk by 98% and outages on undergrounded lines by 90%, with long-term benefits valued at $117 billion. Energy Safety will assess reliability gains and wildfire-risk reduction. If the plan clears review, PG&E would seek conditional cost approval from the California Public Utilities Commission.
