Undergrounding Power Lines and Infrastructure
The practice of undergrounding power lines and infrastructure is complicated and there is good reason to underground some but not all infrastructure.
Infrastructure Investments
Liberty is proud to deliver safe and reliable electric service to our customers and communities in California. Electricity plays an important role in our daily lives, and by investing in our electric system, we can continue providing this resource now and in the future.
Strengthening the Reliability of Our Electric System
Liberty invests in the communities we serve to provide safe, reliable service for you and your family. Liberty makes prudent investments in the electrical system to increase safety, reduce the potential for outages, and support current and future needs.
Learn more below about our investments in the Lake Tahoe system.
Project Spotlight
In 2023, Liberty began replacing the substation in Portola, as the previous one had reached the end of its useful life. This new substation went into service in March 2024 and will continue to support customers’ electricity needs and future growth.
The Topaz Line rebuild project consisted of replacing 98 poles, removing 55 poles, and installing 3.5 miles of overhead primary conductor. This project will help to improve service reliability and reduce the risk of wildfire.
Covered conductor is wire that has an insulated cover, which helps protect against sparking or shorts caused by wire slaps. To reduce the risk of wildfires, Liberty is actively installing covered conductor throughout Liberty’s service area.
Tree attachments refer to electrical infrastructure that is attached to a tree. While tree attachments were the industry standard decades ago, it is no longer the case. Current industry standards state that the best practice is to attach wires to properly treated poles. Liberty is systematically removing electrical infrastructure that is attached to a tree and attaching them to poles instead.
Liberty is replacing old technology fuses with new technology fuses. The older technology fuses may emit hot particles or gas when they trip, so replacing them helps reduce the risk of wildfire.
Liberty routinely inspects and documents the electrical distribution system to gain detailed information that is needed to complete tasks such as replacing expulsion fuses, tree attachments, and more.
Vegetation management is a year-round effort that involves inspecting, pruning, and removing vegetation to maintain power line clearance throughout the service area and is necessary for compliance with the regulations set forth by California regulatory agencies.
Secondary wire carries lower-voltage electrical current than distribution wire. Any secondary wire that has been identified as being past its useful life will be replaced with new wire. This helps reduce the potential for faults, thereby decreasing the potential for service interruptions.
Over time, poles can bend and deteriorate for a number of reasons, such as wire weight, tension, and exposure to weather elements. Thus, Liberty routinely inspects, tests, and/or treats the poles to confirm that the poles’ structural integrity has not been compromised. Poles that do not pass these tests are scheduled for replacement.