To: Board of Supervisors
From: Public Works
Agenda Section: Consent
SUBJECT:
title
Report of Pacific Gas & Electric Rule 20A Work Credits and Status of Undergrounding Projects
end
RECOMMENDATION(S):
Recommendation
That the Board of Supervisors:
1. Receive and file the 2021 Rule 20A Allocation and Work Credit Balance Report from Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E).
Body
SOURCE OF FUNDING:
Rule 20A Utility Underground Fund
DISCUSSION:
The County of Humboldt currently has $2,189,860 in work credits available through PG&E for undergrounding of overhead utility lines (Attachment 1). The funds are derived from tariffs that are calculated based upon 50% of the number of PG&E’s overhead electric meters and 50% of the total electric meters within each community. The funds can only be used for the purpose of undergrounding utilities and only when meeting criteria established by the California Public Utilities Commission.
In 2013, the Board of Supervisors revised the county’s Utility Conversion Plan (Attachment 2). The plan identifies future undergrounding projects and prioritizes them. Since that time, one project has been completed. In 2016, the School Road (East) undergrounding project was constructed.
PG&E is in the process of engineering the Garberville Underground project. PG&E anticipated that construction would commence in 2021. Due to COVID-19, this did not happen. PG&E has not provided the department with an updated timeline.
The Public Utility Commission is sunsetting the Rule 20A program. The Rural County Representatives of California has an excellent summary describing the state of the Rule 20A program (Attachment 3). As noted in Attachment 1, the county will be receiving only one (1) more installment of work credits. It is anticipated that there will be sufficient work credits to construct the Garberville project. Because the Garberville project is underway, it will not be cancelled. It is not known what the successor program to the Rule 20A program will be.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This report on the status of the Rule 20A program does not impact the General Fund.
Costs to the General Fund associated with the Garberville Townsquare Underground project are not known at this time; but are anticipated to be minimal. Changes to the Rule 20A program made several years ago allowed for most county expenses related to the undergrounding project to be reimbursed through the Rule 20A program using available credits. The project is currently being engineered by PG&E. After PG&E completes the design, Public Works will then be able to estimate the impact, if any, to the General Fund.
STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK:
This action supports your Board’s Strategic Framework by providing for and maintaining infrastructure.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
PG&E
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Board of Supervisors may direct the department to move forward with one (1) or more projects and provide General Fund revenue to cover the department's costs. This alternative is not recommended.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1 - PG&E Rule 20A credit summary dated July 6, 2021
Attachment 2 - Utility Conversion Plan revised 2013
Attachment 3 - RCRC news flash
PREVIOUS ACTION/REFERRAL:
Board Order No.: C-29
Meeting of: 9/29/2020
File No.: 20-1216