Undergrounding is a very complex project, and because of that, the timing of the work is subject to change as the work progresses. Work will typically occur from 7 a.m.-7 p.m., Monday through Friday and with occasional work on weekends. The times will be the same for undergrounding work but may require 24-hour work for underground drilling in some locations.

Under the CPUC’s Rule 20, undergrounding projects are initiated by a governmental agency (e.g., city, county), developer or individual customer. It is financed by utility rate money, combined rate funds and local tax proceeds, or private funds depending on whether Rule 20A, Rule 20B or Rule 20C provisions apply. Non-rule 20 undergrounding projects are driven by SCE’s assessment through the wildfire mitigation plan to lower wildfire risk in a specific area.

SCE is undergrounding power lines to help reduce the risk of wildfires and increase reliability during extreme weather conditions. We have identified certain high fire risk areas where it is prudent to move power lines underground for public safety reasons if not already hardened with covered conductor and feasible to do so. Our goal is safety and not necessarily aesthetics. SCE may choose to underground power lines in areas that meet certain criteria, including limited exit and entry points to communities, extreme potential consequences and other factors. If you’d like to know if your community has planned undergrounding for wildfire mitigation purposes, please refer to our grid hardening map. Governmental agencies (e.g., city, county), developers or individual customers interested in initiating an undergrounding project not related to wildfire mitigation, please refer to Rule 20 projects. 

While an undergrounding project may be taking place in your neighborhood, the scope of work depends on the specific portions of the circuit lines being targeted for undergrounding that may or may not feed your home, neighborhood or business. The project team carefully evaluates the power lines that meet the targeted undergrounding criteria, including limited exit and entry points to communities, extreme potential consequences and other factors. 

While SCE is removing electrical overhead lines and equipment and putting them underground in targeted areas, poles that have lines and assets owned by other companies (e.g., telecommunications, cable, etc.) may remain above ground. SCE will communicate the scope of work with telecommunications companies to allow them the opportunity to underground their lines at the same time. 

SCE is pursuing undergrounding to help reduce the risk of wildfires and increase reliability during extreme weather conditions. We have identified certain high fire risk areas where it is prudent, and feasible, to move power lines underground for public safety reasons if they are not already hardened with covered conductor and feasible. SCE may choose to underground power lines in areas that meet specific criteria, including limited exit and entry points to communities, extreme potential consequences and other factors. Learn more about undergrounding as a wildfire mitigation measure with this fact sheet.

Safety is SCE’s number one priority. SCE’s grid hardening work keeps safety top of mind and uses a comprehensive strategy that builds on continuous efforts to address immediate and long-term wildfire risks in response to changing community needs and extreme weather events. We continue to harden the grid and invest in resiliency measures including installing covered conductor, undergrounding power lines, clearing vegetation near power lines, inspecting equipment for repairs and maintenance and integrating advanced technologies to reduce the risk of wildfires by utility equipment.

It is important to understand that the Solar Billing Tariff program requires that customers’ renewable generating systems are sized to meet historical onsite load, unless the customer signs an attestation representing that the customer is oversizing their system in anticipation of increased onsite load that will materialize in a set time.  

Excess exports occur when your system is oversized, meaning it generates more than you can use to meet your onsite needs.  That excess generation is exported to the grid, requiring SCE to purchase energy from you that it does not need. Because customers that do not have their own solar generating facilities fund those purchases, they are overcompensating you for your excess exports.  

The EECA is therefore not a penalty for generating more energy than you use; rather it is simply a correction to your annual bill credit compensation that is consistent with the “sized to load” program parameters. You will only see this adjustment if you were overcompensated for excess exports over the course of your 12-month billing cycle, or relevant period.

It is therefore important to consider the current and anticipated future size of your property, occupancy, appliances and equipment like electric vehicle charging stations, and other relevant factors, before selecting a system size to install.  

Covered conductor takes about 16 to 24 months to deploy. By the end of 2025, SCE expects to reach hardening approximately 90% of our total distribution lines in high fire risk area. 

Covered conductor (coated wire) is an overhead power line that has durable protective coating to help prevent sparking when objects come in contact with the line or when lines clash with one another. SCE replaces bare wire with covered conductor to help reduce wildfire risk.