Massive Underground Electrical Upgrade for Altadena Ahead, Utility Says

Southern California Edison is preparing to underground 63 miles of electrical infrastructure in Altadena, focusing on fire-damaged areas and supporting future clean energy adoption, company officials said Tuesday.

The multiyear project will initially target 23 miles in 2025, prioritizing areas with no existing electrical infrastructure to support community rebuilding efforts after the Eaton Fire.

David Fanous, SCE’s Operations Section Chief, said the project will be implemented in phases, with construction set to begin in July.

“We want to be ready when people start coming back to rebuild,” Fanous told the Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations.

The upgrade will increase electrical capacity to support emerging technologies like electric vehicles and heat pumps, he said.

The company plans to upgrade from a 4 kV to a 16 kV system in West Altadena, which Fanous noted will better support the community’s potential transition to all-electric technologies.

The undergrounding effort requires property owners’ cooperation through a right-of-entry agreement. SCE is offering $500 per property and will later negotiate permanent easements with individual landowners.

Karla Diaz Sayles, vice president of local public affairs, said the company promises engagement.

“We are deeply committed to building back Altadena stronger alongside the community,” she said.

The project will prioritize areas with no current electrical infrastructure, with approximately 40 miles in current high fire risk zones and 23 miles in areas severely damaged by the fire. SCE is working with Los Angeles County to explore potential FEMA funding to help offset connection costs for property owners, Sayles and Fanous reported.

Altadena Residents can get more information at the SCE one-stop shop, where energy advisors and planners are available to answer questions about the rebuilding process. For more, click here.