To: Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): Sonoma County Public Infrastructure
Staff Name and Phone Number: Johannes J. Hoevertsz, 707-565-2231
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
List of Rule 20A Credit Utility Undergrounding Projects - Preliminary Approval
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Approve a Proposed List of Rule 20A Credit Utility Undergrounding Projects.
end
Executive Summary:
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has adopted and oversees an Overhead Conversion Program known as Electric Rule 20, which funds the conversion of overhead electric lines to underground facilities. Electric Rule 20A is a subprogram of Electric Rule 20 that allocates ratepayer-funded work credits to cities and counties for projects that meet specific project eligibility criteria.
The Department of Public Infrastructure is requesting that the Board approve the proposed list of projects. If approved, the Director will coordinate with PG&E, identify future stakeholders, conduct analysis of the listed projects under the public interest criteria of Rule 20A, and ultimately return to your Board to hold public hearings, make public interest findings, and establish the underground utility district boundaries. Project design and construction delivery timelines are approximately 5 to 7 years.
Discussion:
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has adopted and oversees an Overhead Conversion Program known as Electric Rule 20, which funds the conversion of overhead electric lines to underground facilities. Electric Rule 20 is divided into four subprograms - Rule 20A through Rule 20D - which provide different levels of ratepayer contribution to projects.
Rule 20A projects are fully ratepayer-funded but must meet strict criteria and demonstrate that they are in the public interest by meeting one or more of the following criteria:
1. Such undergrounding will avoid or eliminate an unusually heavy concentration of overhead electric facilities;
2. The street or road or right-of-way is extensively used by the general public and carries a heavy volume of pedestrian or vehicular traffic;
3. Wheelchair access is limited or impeded in a manner that is not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act;
4. The street or road or right-of-way adjoins or passes through a civic area or public recreation area or an area of significant scenic, cultural, and/or historic interest to the general public; or
5. The street or road or right-of-way is considered an arterial street or major collector as defined by the California Department of Transportation’s California Road System functional classification system.
Established in 1967, the California Public Utility Commission provides oversight for the Rule 20A program administered by PG&E. The County received the most recent annual allocation of approximately 765,000 Rule 20A undergrounding program credits from PG&E and currently has an estimated 22 million allocated credits, which includes the 3.8 million credits purchased by the County from Amador County in 2021. The County’s Rule 20A credits can be redeemed to cover undergrounding project costs. As of December 31, 2022, the CPUC discontinued allocation of Rule 20A credits to cities and counties, however, cities and counties may continue to use existing credits. One credit is equivalent to one dollar.
The table below illustrates the list of projects proposed for Board consideration:
|
Supervisorial District |
Road |
Limits |
Miles |
|
|
1 |
Arnold Drive, Sonoma |
Madrone Road to Eldridge Bridge |
1.00 |
|
|
2 |
Penngrove area: Main St, and Portions of Adobe Road, Old Redwood Hwy, Woodward Avenue and Oak St. |
Penngrove downtown area |
1.00 |
|
|
3 |
Petaluma Hill Road, Santa Rosa |
Snyder Lane to Hunter Lane |
0.20 |
|
|
4 |
Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville Old Redwood Hwy, Larkfield |
Hwy 128 to Hamilton Lane Ursuline Rd to St James Dr |
0.36 1.20 |
|
|
5 |
Mirabel Road, Forestville |
Hwy 116 to River Road |
1.35 |
|
The proposed list of projects is preliminary and may need further refinement. Further cost analysis may be needed as project boundaries are determined. If the projects listed above are approved by your Board, staff will begin coordination meetings with PG&E and identify future stakeholders to include in the process of defining underground utility district boundaries.
Ultimately, the Department will return to your Board to hold public hearings, make public interest findings, and establish the underground utility district boundaries pursuant to Chapter 25A of the Sonoma County Code. Project design and construction occurs after underground utility districts are formed, and delivery timelines are estimated at 5 to 7 years.
Since 2017, the County has prioritized the undergrounding of utilities in high-risk fire areas and currently has one project heading to construction later this year in Freestone, which has a Board approved underground district boundary and was determined by the Board to meet criteria nos. 2 and 4 above. While wildfire safety is not incorporated into Rule 20A public interest criteria, the County continues to advocate, alongside other local governments, to expand the public interest criteria for Rule 20A to include safety and reliability for enhanced wildfire mitigation and resiliency.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Resilient Infrastructure
Goal: Goal 3: Continue to invest in critical road, bridge, bicycle, and pedestrian infrastructure.
Objective: Objective 1: Continue to maintain road segments, including designated turnouts where feasible, increase efforts on vegetation removal and drainage features, and improve pavement conditions in neighborhoods.
Prior Board Actions:
1/26/21 Board approved Agreement with Amador County to transfer Amador County Rule 20A credits valued at $3.8 million to Sonoma County for a cost of $1.9 million, which was financed with PG&E 2017 Fire Settlement Funds.
12/15/20 Board allocated PG&E Settlement funds for transportation, utilities undergrounding, communications, safety and preparedness infrastructure investments.
10/6/20 Board led discussion on PG&E Settlement funds - Community Feedback and preliminary allocation of funds
8/11/20 Board held PG&E Settlement funds preliminary discussion
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
There are no direct fiscal impact as a result of this Board Item. When the proposed locations receive final approval by this Board the Department will return to the Board to provide design and construction timelines.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
None.
Attachments:
None.
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None.