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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRPT 2 OVERHEAD UTIL. 12-07-92REPORTS NO. 2 12-7-92 F G j In ter -COM 1,- -IATE: DECEMBER 71 1992 TO: WILLIAM A. HUSTON, CITY MANAGER FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT/ENGINEERING DIVISION SUBJECT: OVERHEAD UTILITY CONCERNS AT BROWNING AND WALNUT AVENUES RECOMMENDATIONS: Pleasure of the City Council. BACKGROUND: At the August 25, 1992 Town Hall meeting, a resident inquired as to the safety of the overhead Edison Company facilities adjacent to the Nelson School site on Browning Avenue, northerly of Walnut Avenue. Further follow-up with Ms. Marjorie Kasalek defined the concerns as follows: 1. The stability of the overhead facilities that hold the transformer units adjacent to the school parking lot and public sidewalk in front of the school. This overhead structure swayed and vibrated under windy conditions. 2. The stability of the 66,000 volt and 12,000 volt overhead conductors under windy and/or earthquake conditions. Staff has received the Edison Company's response on the requested information as well as cost estimates for undergrounding the overhead facilities in question. These responses are recapped in the discussion portion of this memorandum. The attached Exhibit "A" outlines in general the regulations of the Public Utilities Commission Rule 20 for the undergrounding of overhead utilities and the current City of Tustin prioritized list of projects scheduled for utility undergrounding utilizing Rule 20A funds. DISCUSSION: Edison Company has responded to the concerns regarding the overhead transformer units adjacent to the school and both the 66,000 volt and 12,000 volt overhead conductors with respect to windy and/or earthquake conditions as follows: 1. An Edison crew has been requested to check the transformers on the overhead rack, which serves the school. The crew will make sure the bolts are fastened securely and are in good condition. In addition, the - poles will be butt tested for any signs of deterioration. 2. All Southern California Edison overhead facilities are constructed and maintained in accordance with General Order No. 95 (GO 95) as approved by the California Public Overhead Utility Concerns December 7, 1992 Page 2 Utilities Commission. GO 95 takes into consideration earthquakes and high wind conditions in its regulation of all overhead facilities. Staff also inquired as to what the potential cost would be with respect to undergrounding both the 66,000 volt and 12,000 volt overhead facilities immediately adjacent to the Nelson School site. Edison company has responded with the following cost estimates: Facility 66,000 Volt 12,000 Volt Transformer Rack and Poles Rule 20B Cost (1992 $) $616,400 $247,900 $ 99,000 $963,300 Rule 20A Cost (1992 $) $460,000 $185,000 $ 99,000 $744,000 The above mentioned cost estimates are based upon a project of 1000 feet in length along Browning Avenue northerly of Walnut Avenue. Additionally, the undergrounding of these facilities would require the services to the school to be put underground at the school's expense, if it is not already underground. Robert Ledendecker Director of Public Works/City Engineer RL:ccg:utilconc cc: Dana R. Kasdan Pat Buttress i' EXHIBIT "A" General outline of Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Rule 20 Regulations concerning the undergrounding of overhead utilities. The PUC has three established rules No. 20A, 20B and 20C pertaining to the undergrounding of overhead electrical facilities. Rule 20A provides for the total cost to be borne by the utility company. Rule 20B provides for the cost of undergrounding to be shared by both the utility company and the requesting City/County. This shared amount provides for the requesting party to provide for all pads and vaults for transformers, conduit, ducts, trenching and paving required in connection with the installation of the underground system and the cost difference between completing the underground system and building a new equivalent overhead system. Rule 20C provides that the requesting party be responsible for funding the cost of the entire undergrounding project. Under the Rule 20A allocation process Tustin receives approximately $162,900 annually each January. The City's current balance as of January 1992 is $129,933. There is one undergrounding project in progress (Prospect Avenue from First Street to Beneta Way) at an estimated cost of $350,000 which will be charged against the January, 1992 balance and the upcoming 1993 allocation. This will leave a deficit in Tustin's balance of approximately $57,000 in January 1994. Following is a prioritized list of projects approved by City Council on February 17, 1992 for undergrounding with the use of Rule 20A funds: 1. Prospect Avenue between Irvine Boulevard and Beneta Way. This project is in progress and should be completed by December 1992. 2. Yorba Street between First Street and Irvine Boulevard. This project will be completed with the Yorba Street widening project and will not impact the Rule 20A funds. 3. First Street between the westerly City limits and Pasadena Avenue. This undergrounding will be completed with the freeway construction. 4. Red Hill Avenue between Copperfield Drive and the I-5 Freeway (scheduled for 1993-94). 5. Red Hill Avenue between the I-5 Freeway and Bryan Avenue (scheduled for 1995-96). 6. Bryan Avenue/Main Street between Red Hill Avenue and Newport Avenue (scheduled for 1997-98). 7. Main Street between "C" Street and the SR -55 Freeway (scheduled for 1999-2000). 8. E1 Camino Real between Newport Avenue and Browning Avenue (scheduled for 2001-2004). 9. Nisson Road between Pasadena Avenue and "B" Street (scheduled for 2005-2007). Depending upon construction costs and any variations in the annual allocations the above mentioned scheduling could either be accelerated or delayed.