Notes from the underground, utilities edition

Buried utilities in communities across Southern California can stay that way, under a decision today by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Southern California Edison had sought to move all of its underground electrical distribution equipment (transformers and the like) to above-ground metal boxes that could be located right by public sidewalks or on private property. Edison said the move to retroactively remove the underground equipment was needed to keep electrical workers safe and to enable the utility to quickly restore electrical service following power outages.

But a number of cities across the region, including Culver City and West Hollywood, had strongly protested Edison’s proposed action, citing community aesthetics and other concerns.

The Commission’s unanimous vote followed months of negotiations among Edison, Los Angeles County and the Westside Cities Council of Government. (Read Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s motion on the issue, which helped get the talks going.)

Under the PUC resolution, electrical equipment still must be placed above ground in all new construction on private property. But the commission said that the equipment is subject to local laws protecting the look and feel of surrounding neighborhoods. It also imposed rules requiring that Edison remove graffiti from its above ground equipment within 48 hours at no cost to taxpayers.

Posted 4/22/10