PG&E Undergrounds 25 Miles of Electric Lines in Kern County

BAKERSFIELD — Twenty-five miles of powerlines constructed underground by PG&E will nearly eliminate all wildfire risk, improve reliability and lessen the need for safety shutoffs during severe weather.  

The project work, located mainly in Lebec along Interstate 5 near the Los Angeles County border, will be energized and begin service for customers in September.  

By moving these powerlines underground, the project permanently reduces 98% of wildfire risk on the liens, helping protect the community while lessening the need for PSPS events during severe weather. The undergrounding also improves electric reliability for customers, including during winter storms.  

“This project helps mitigate wildfire risk for Lebec and other communities within Kern County and will continue to help safeguard against a changing climate and extreme weather events for many years to come. In addition to added safety benefits, this project will also support enhanced reliability for the friends, family and neighbors we are privileged to serve in Kern County,” said PG&E System Hardening and Undergrounding Vice President Matt Pender.  

By the end of 2027, PG&E anticipates a total of 1,900 miles of powerlines will be underground in high wildfire-risk areas of Northern and Central California.  

Since the start of the program, the cost per mile of undergrounding has decreased by approximately 25%. Over the last three years, the cost has average about $3.25 million per mile with further efficiencies anticipated in coming years. In addition, undergrounding also decreases the need for future tree and vegetation work and reduces ongoing maintenance and operating expenses in the long term.  

• Undergrounding cost savings have been achieved through multiple innovations, optimized project designs and construction tools, including:  
• Working more efficiently with state-of-the-art construction equipment, including chain trenchers, rock-wheel saws and slinger trucks.  
• Saving time, money and additional dirt removal by reducing the standard depth and width of trenches.  
• Cutting disposal costs by using excess soil from undergrounding projects for other operational projects.  

With increasing fire risk across the western United States, it is critical to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. PG&E is taking both immediate and long-term actions to keep communities safe, while also focusing on reduced costs and increased reliability.  

PG&E uses multiple layers of protection that work together to prevent wildfires. These have significantly reduced wildfire risk. These safety measures prevented major fires from our equipment in 2023, 2024 and 2025 and have greatly reduced wildfire risk since 2018. Later this year, PG&E will file a 10-year Electrical Undergrounding Plan that will allow the utility to continue this important wildfire mitigation work, more efficiently, helping lower wildfire risks and overall costs for our customers.