PG&E to Underground Nearly 4.5 Miles of Overhead Electric Equipment Along Kirker Pass

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (June 5, 2022) — Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) will be working along Contra Costa County’s Kirker Pass to underground nearly 4.5 miles of overhead equipment beginning in mid-June. The system-hardening work will help ensure safety and reliability in high fire-threat areas.

In addition to Kirker Pass, work will take place on Nortonville Road in Pittsburg. Customers in the affected areas will receive notification in advance of the work.

Drivers may notice equipment and trucks in the area. There will be lane closures and traffic control in place; drivers should allow for delays. Should there be a need for a planned outage associated with this work, PG&E will reach out in advance to any affected customers.

The work is scheduled for completion by the end of the year, weather permitting.

This project is part of PG&E’s multiyear infrastructure safety program to underground approximately 10,000 miles of powerlines in and near high fire-threat areas, first announced in 2021. This plan represents the bold, innovative action that is required to meet our state’s climate challenges and is the largest effort in the U.S. to underground powerlines as a wildfire risk reduction measure.

Undergrounding is part of PG&E’s Community Wildfire Safety Program, first launched in 2018 to help keep customers and communities safe in the face of growing wildfire risk across the state.

One of many system-hardening tools PG&E uses Undergrounding to reduce wildfire risks.

Depending on the needs of the community, PG&E reviews additional risk-reduction efforts including installing stronger poles, covered powerlines and sectionalizing devices. It also looks at conducting enhanced vegetation management; adjusting powerline safety settings; and implementing Public Safety Power Shutoffs.