8K Consent 2011 0606 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Eden Road Underground 2 June 6, 2011 In addition, PG &E has a program to fund some of the costs to underground utilities known as Rule 20A. Participation in this program would cover some of the utility undergrounding costs, reducing the contributions required from other sources. Rule 20A underground conversion projects are funded by PG &E's ratepayers throughout the city and are intended to underground existing distribution lines in areas that benefit the "public interest" as defined in four criteria set by the CPUC. To include a project in the Rule 20A program, the governing body of the city or county in which the lines are located must determine, after consultation with the utility company and after holding public hearings on the subject, that undergrounding is in the general public interest for one or more of the following reasons: 1. Such undergrounding will avoid or eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead lines. 2. The street, road, or right -of -way is extensively used by the general public and carries a heavy volume of pedestrian or vehicular traffic. 3. The street, road, or right -of -way adjoins or passes through a civic area or public recreation area or an area of unusual scenic interest to the general public. 4. The street is a General Plan arterial or major collector road, as per the guidelines of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research. Analysis Eden Road meets Rule 20A requirement 3, which states that the streets, roads, or rights -of -way in the proposed Underground Utility District adjoin or pass through a civic area or public recreation area or an area of unusual scenic interest to the general public. This area is adjacent to the Galbraith Golf Course and the proposed location of a bike path brings cyclists to within 700 feet of Oyster Bay Regional Park, in which the San Francisco Bay Trail passes. Rule 20A funds can be used for installation of underground electrical transmission lines and laterals within public rights-of-way. Rule 20A underground utility work on Eden Road is estimated at 5240,000 and can be funded from the current PG &E allocations. Allocation of money to this project will reduce the amount available to the next underground utility project. The City's Rule 20A funds have historically accumulated at approximately $600,000 per year. PG &E and the CPUC require that certain findings be made to qualify a project for Rule 20A funds. The attached resolution contains the following statements: • All existing overhead communication and electric distribution lines in such district shall be removed • Each property served from such electric /communication overhead lines shall have installed, in accordance with the utility company's rules for underground service, all electrical /communication line changes on the premises necessary to receive service from underground facilities as soon as it is available • The authorizing utility companies discontinue and remove their overhead service by mutually agreed date •