1. Design
During the design phase, SCE determines the best options for hardening based on circuit outage history, location of the circuit, and surrounding area including vegetation near the equipment and past weather conditions. This analysis is an important step to determine the type of work that can be completed at the proposed area and the specific details needed to define the scope of work.

2. Permitting
Once the scope of work is established, SCE can determine if permitting is required. Most projects require at least one permit for road closures, typically from a city, county, or Caltrans. Additional permit requirements depend on the project’s location. They may include state and federal land permits, environmental clearances, private property easements, Federal Aviation Administration approvals or railroad rights-of-way permits. Permit approval may take as short as two months, or the process may be significantly longer.

3. Construction
Work can be scheduled and construction can begin once all the required permits are received. In most cases, this work will require a power outage at the end of construction when the power is ready to be switched from the bare overhead line to covered conductor or undergrounded lines. We will notify customers in advance if an outage is needed.