Proposed Undergrounding Plans Presented by DWP

This is an example of what the above group equipment that is used when utilities are put underground and will need to go in the parkway.

Even as the City and AECOM seem to have problems showing concise rebuilding plans, the Pacific Palisades Community Council’s infrastructure committee headed by Reza Akef presented an informative look at what the next steps are for undergrounding utility lines and the sequencing  through a Zoom meeting held March 26.

Dave Hansen was a key figure in presenting information and answering questions to the nearly 350 people on the meeting. Hansen is Mayor Karen Bass’ interim director of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, replacing Janiesse Quinones. In a March 26 statement the Mayor wrote “Hanson is well-positioned to support Mayor Bass’ priorities in delivering reliable power and water service to millions of Angelenos and accelerating the transition to 100% clean energy.”

DWP’s Zoraya Oliver Griffin assured residents “Our commitment is genuine and ongoing.”

Hansen said that many Paliisadians may have noticed the undergrounding that was already going on under Sunset. He said that operation was temporarily halted when a fatality occurred. “DWP terminated that contract, and hired someone else,” he said. That Sunset construction should resume in the second quarter of 2026 (next month).

The new director said, “We’re hiring 116 new design engineers for the Palisades.”

There is already 27 miles of existing underground electrical service and 45 miles of existing overhead in Pacific Palisades.  DWP plans to underground the overhead lines where feasible.

For undergrounding to occur, a portion of the equipment must go above ground, which would mean an easement would needed about every 10 homes. During the question phase, people wanted to know if their lots would be impacted because it would go with planning the gates/fences/landscaping. “When the design phase comes. It takes time,” was the answer.  A resident wanted to know if there was an easement in the front of DWP would use that, rather then private land.

“Yes, but most of the easements for electrical and communication wires are in the back of properties,” DWP replied.

Additionally, DWP is working with the telecom companies to have them trench wires, too. If they don’t, there will still be poles with wires on lots.

The utility company plans to increase the system capacity by upgrading Distribution Station 29, at the corner of Sunset and Via de la Paz. When that station is upgraded the two pole top distribution stations (at Marquez and Sunset and Temescal and Sunset), which currently carry high voltage will be taken down. That construction will tentatively take place from the second quarter in 2028 through 2031. A second distribution station will not be needed.

The plan is to start with undergrounding in the Alphabet Streets in the first quarter of 2027 and take about a year. DWP’s Teodore Zeiss said that area was selected because of the extensive damage and the proximity to DS 29. That area will be followed by the Huntington Palisades and the Via de las Olas bluffs. The final area to receive undergrounding will be the Castellammare area and Sunset Mesa.

A resident wanted to know the steps needed to get undergrounding to his/her property.

1. ) Put in a combo panel, 2.) run a conduit to the street, and 3.) put in an online request to meet with DWP about placement of both. Or one can go to the Palisades (PIPSC) and speak to someone there for help.

How much will this cost residents to have the electricity placed underground? Was the question asked by many in the chat.

DWP had put in a request to FEMA to help with the costs, which are estimated at about $1.8 million. The initial request was rejected. DWP appealed last week, and the government has 90 days to respond.  DWP’s Oliver Griffen said they could use help,  by having everyone write their senators and legislators and urging them to make sure this project gets federal funding. On the Community Council website https://pacpalicc.org/ a sample letter will soon be available. . Infrastructure committee member May Sung suggested that perhaps insurance companies might fund it as a code upgrade.

If FEMA funds don’t come in, DWP will try to cover the cost to underground utilities because they can’t charge individual ratepayers, according to PPCC’s Akef.

In the chat, one person wanted to know when electricity was turned off during the Palisades Fire, which was not answered. But residents were assured that remote switching would now be possible. When one resident said the transformers exploded during the fire, Hansen said, “We have no indication that our equipment started the fire.”

DWP plans to return to the PPCC in April to speak about water and the reservoirs.