California Authorizes PG&E Undergrounding

The California Public Utilities Commission recently approved Pacific Gas and Electric's 2023-2026 General Rate Case, which authorized one thousand two hundred thirty miles of undergrounding during those four years. That is good news, because investing in undergrounding in the highest fire-risk areas benefits all PG&E customers; from improved air and water quality resulting from fewer fires, protection of wildlands, and over the long run, lower costs to customers due to reduced maintenance and vegetation management expenditures.

There is more to come too, as by mid-year, PG&E will file its Ten-Year Undergrounding Plan, which was enabled by the California Legislature with passage of SB 884. But all that undergrounding takes a lot of hard work.

Enter PG&E SVP for Major Infrastructure Delivery, Peter Kenny, under whose auspices this work will take place. With all eyes on this major undertaking, Public Utilities Fortnightly went to Kenny, to understand better how PG&E is making this happen.
 

PUF's Steve Mitnick: Describe Major Infrastructure Delivery. It's MID. Is that its official name?

Peter Kenny: Major Infrastructure Delivery is part of our Operations organization that I have the honor of leading. The organization is made up of three parts.