February 11, 2000
Sierra Pacific Resources
Contact: Karl Walquist / Bob Sagan
Phone: (775)834-3891 / (775) 834-4834

For Immediate Release

Sierra Pacific Power Co. has finished moving a 2,000-foot section of its overhead power line underground in downtown Tahoe City. Underground facilities have been installed from Grove Street east to the state park along North Lake Boulevard.

The utility is currently removing the tops of the 20 power poles that supported the electric line, according to Sierra Pacific's Chris Daley, manager of district operations for North Lake Tahoe. The poles will be removed entirely after the remaining cable television and telephone lines are moved underground to serve the downtown business district.

Sierra Pacific began the $2 million project during June of 1999, but couldn't complete the job until customers served by the 14,000-volt power line were able to convert their businesses to accept underground electrical connections.

Daley said the project was funded under terms of a California Public Utilities Commission regulation that requires utilities to set aside a portion of their revenues to move overhead power lines underground. Through the program, several miles of overhead lines have been moved underground adjacent to scenic roadways in the Lake Tahoe Basin.