$925-million grid undergrounding project draws scrutiny from Altadena residents
(UI) - Residents in Altadena, California, are calling for a pause to a major utility undergrounding project, citing rising homeowner costs, coordination gaps, and construction impacts as rebuilding continues following the Eaton wildfire.
The $925-million effort by Southern California Edison is aimed at improving grid safety and reliability by burying distribution lines across fire-impacted areas, the LA Times reported. However, homeowners say they face unexpected costs—often tens of thousands of dollars—to connect their properties to the underground system.
Concerns have also emerged around project execution, including trenching impacts on mature trees and a lack of coordination with telecommunications providers, which in many cases are not burying their lines alongside electric infrastructure.
Local officials and residents have urged a temporary halt to construction until planning, cost-sharing, and coordination issues are addressed. According to LA Times, the situation highlights broader challenges facing utility undergrounding efforts, particularly in wildfire-prone regions where projects must balance resilience goals with cost, environmental, and stakeholder considerations.
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