PG&E Reaches Significant Undergrounding Milestone, Burying More Than 800 Miles of Lines in High Wildfire-Risk Areas
PG&E has reached a significant milestone by completing over 800 miles of underground powerlines since 2021, including more than 360 miles in 2023 alone. The undergrounding effort now serves customers in 27 counties, reducing wildfire risk by 98% in those locations while improving reliability. The company has already completed 187 miles toward its 2024 target of 250 miles, with plans to complete 330 miles in 2025 and 440 miles in 2026. PG&E aims to reach more than 1,600 total miles across 30 counties by end of 2026. The company uses machine-learning-based risk modeling to determine highest-risk lines for undergrounding, with priority given to highest-risk circuits.
PG&E ha raggiunto un traguardo significativo completando oltre 800 miglia di linee elettriche sotterranee dal 2021, di cui più di 360 miglia solo nel 2023. Questo sforzo di interramento serve ora i clienti in 27 contee, riducendo il rischio di incendi boschivi del 98% in quelle località, migliorando al contempo l'affidabilità. L'azienda ha già completato 187 miglia verso l'obiettivo del 2024 di 250 miglia, con piani per completare 330 miglia nel 2025 e 440 miglia nel 2026. PG&E mira a raggiungere oltre 1.600 miglia totali in 30 contee entro la fine del 2026. L'azienda utilizza modelli di rischio basati su apprendimento automatico per determinare le linee con il rischio più elevato per l'interramento, dando priorità ai circuiti ad alta rischiosità.
PG&E ha alcanzado un hito significativo al completar más de 800 millas de líneas eléctricas subterráneas desde 2021, incluyendo más de 360 millas solo en 2023. El esfuerzo de soterramiento ahora sirve a clientes en 27 condados, reduciendo el riesgo de incendios forestales en un 98% en esos lugares, al mismo tiempo que mejora la confiabilidad. La empresa ya ha completado 187 millas hacia su objetivo de 250 millas para 2024, con planes de completar 330 millas en 2025 y 440 millas en 2026. PG&E aspira a alcanzar más de 1,600 millas totales en 30 condados para finales de 2026. La empresa utiliza modelado de riesgo basado en aprendizaje automático para determinar las líneas de mayor riesgo para el soterramiento, dando prioridad a los circuitos de mayor riesgo.
PG&E는 2021년 이후 800마일 이상의 지하 전력선을 완공하며 중요한 이정표를 세웠습니다. 2023년에는 360마일 이상을 포함합니다. 이러한 지하화 노력은 현재 27개 카운티의 고객에게 서비스를 제공하며, 해당 지역의 산불 위험을 98% 줄이고 신뢰성을 향상시킵니다. 회사는 2024년 목표인 250마일 중 187마일을 이미 완료했으며, 2025년에는 330마일, 2026년에는 440마일을 완료할 계획입니다. PG&E는 2026년 말까지 30개 카운티에서 총 1,600마일 이상에 도달할 계획입니다. 이 회사는 기계 학습 기반의 위험 모델링을 사용하여 지하화할 가장 높은 위험의 선을 결정하며, 가장 높은 위험 회로에 우선 순위를 두고 있습니다.
PG&E a atteint une étape importante en complétant plus de 800 miles de lignes électriques souterraines depuis 2021, dont plus de 360 miles rien qu'en 2023. Cet effort de souterrain dessert désormais des clients dans 27 comtés, réduisant le risque d'incendie de forêt de 98 % dans ces localités tout en améliorant la fiabilité. L'entreprise a déjà complété 187 miles vers son objectif de 250 miles pour 2024, avec des plans pour atteindre 330 miles en 2025 et 440 miles en 2026. PG&E vise à dépasser 1 600 miles au total dans 30 comtés d'ici fin 2026. L'entreprise utilise une modélisation des risques basée sur l'apprentissage automatique pour déterminer les lignes à risque le plus élevé pour le souterrain, avec une priorité donnée aux circuits les plus risqués.
PG&E hat einen bedeutenden Meilenstein erreicht, indem seit 2021 über 800 Meilen unterirdische Stromleitungen fertiggestellt wurden, darunter mehr als 360 Meilen allein im Jahr 2023. Der Unterbringungsaufwand dient nun Kunden in 27 Bezirken, wodurch das Risiko von Waldbränden an diesen Orten um 98% gesenkt und die Zuverlässigkeit verbessert wird. Das Unternehmen hat bereits 187 Meilen in Richtung seines Ziels von 250 Meilen für 2024 abgeschlossen und plant, 330 Meilen im Jahr 2025 und 440 Meilen im Jahr 2026 abzuschließen. PG&E strebt an, bis Ende 2026 mehr als 1.600 Gesamtmeilen in 30 Bezirken zu erreichen. Das Unternehmen verwendet risikobasierte Modellierung auf Machine-Learning-Basis, um die am stärksten gefährdeten Leitungen für die Unterbringung zu ermitteln, wobei den gefährdetsten Schaltkreisen Vorrang eingeräumt wird.
- Completed over 800 miles of underground powerlines, reducing wildfire risk by 98% in affected areas
- Achieved record 360+ miles of undergrounding in 2023
- Already completed 187 miles towards 2024's 250-mile target
- No catastrophic fires from company equipment in 2023
- 72% reduction in CPUC-reportable ignitions on EPSS-enabled lines compared to 2018-2020 average
- None.
Insights
This milestone of 800+ miles of underground powerlines represents significant progress in PG&E's infrastructure modernization strategy. The completion rate is accelerating, with 360 miles in 2023 and ambitious targets of 330 miles in 2025 and 440 miles in 2026. The project demonstrates strong execution capabilities, with 187 miles already completed toward the 2024 goal of 250 miles.
The undergrounding initiative carries substantial long-term financial implications. While initial capital expenditure is high, the 98% reduction in wildfire risk significantly decreases potential liability costs and insurance expenses. The program also reduces ongoing maintenance and emergency response costs. The use of machine learning for risk assessment and integration with advanced technologies shows a sophisticated approach to infrastructure planning.
The comprehensive risk mitigation strategy demonstrates strong enterprise risk management. Beyond undergrounding, PG&E's multi-layered approach includes:
- Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings showing 72% reduction in reportable ignitions
- Advanced weather monitoring with 1,500 stations
- 90% coverage of high-risk areas with HD cameras
- AI-powered fire detection systems
Customers in 27 Counties Now Benefit from Newly Installed Underground
Powerlines that Improve Reliability and Eliminate Nearly All Wildfire Risk in a Given Location
This comes on the heels of PG&E completing more than 360 miles of undergrounding in 2023, representing the most undergrounding completed in a single year by the company. Customers in 27 counties are now being served by these buried lines, permanently reducing
"Undergrounding powerlines is a key layer of protection in our strategy to reduce wildfire risk and improve reliability for our customers," said Matt Pender, PG&E's Vice President of Undergrounding and System Hardening. "Reaching this milestone is a testament to our commitment to our hometowns and our continued focus on delivering safe and reliable electricity."
PG&E remains committed to undergrounding powerlines in high-risk areas as part of its wildfire mitigation efforts because moving powerlines underground is the most effective solution to permanently reduce wildfire risk, improve reliability and reduce operating costs over the long term.
Undergrounding Progress and Long-Term Plans
As of this week, PG&E has completed more than 187 miles of work toward the company's target of undergrounding 250 miles in 2024. In recent weeks, customers in the
PG&E plans to complete an additional 330 miles of undergrounding in 2025 and another 440 miles in 2026. This work will be targeted in the highest wildfire-risk portions of the company's service area and will bring PG&E to a total of more than 1,600 total miles of undergrounding completed across 30 counties in Northern and
Updates on the company's undergrounding progress are shared monthly on pge.com/undergrounding. Customers and stakeholders also can view an interactive map highlighting where all PG&E wildfire safety work, including completed and forecasted undergrounding, is happening by visiting pge.com/progressmap.
To determine the highest-risk lines for undergrounding, PG&E uses machine-learning-based risk modeling. That includes advanced fire-propagation technology, developed by a company named Technosylva and also used by CAL FIRE, the
For undergrounding workplans in 2027 and beyond, PG&E will analyze additional projects in high fire-risk areas. Priority is given to the highest-risk circuits. Details on long-term plans will be shared in PG&E's 10-Year Electrical Undergrounding Plan to be filed in 2025.
PG&E's layers of protection, including undergrounding, have significantly reduced wildfire risk across its service area, resulting in no catastrophic fires from company equipment in 2023 and a significant reduction in wildfire risk since 2018.
Additional layers of wildfire protection include:
- Strengthening the electric system with strong poles and covered powerlines in and near high fire-risk areas.
- Deploying Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) to decrease ignitions and provide wildfire protection to 44,000 line miles and all 1.8 million customers living in high fire-risk areas. In 2023, there was a
72% reduction in CPUC-reportable ignitions on EPSS-enabled lines in High Fire-Threat Districts (compared to the 2018-2020 average). - Continuing to reduce the impact of Public Safety Power Shutoffs, which remains a top focus for the company.
- Managing trees and other vegetation located near powerlines that could cause a power outage and/or ignition.
- Leveraging a network of over 1,500 weather stations, or one station every 18 line-miles, to better predict and respond to severe weather threats.
- Using 600 high-definition cameras, which provide the ability to see more than
90% of the high fire-risk areas. - Investing in advanced tools and technologies like artificial intelligence and drones that help automate fire detection and response.
Note to Media: B-roll footage is available upon request.
About PG&E
Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is a combined natural gas and electric utility serving more than 16 million people across 70,000 square miles in Northern and
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SOURCE Pacific Gas and Electric Company
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