Bill
SB 797
SB 797 requires or incentivizes California utilities to underground and improve insulation of electrical distribution and transmission facilities to reduce wildfire risk, raising questions about implementation costs and timelines.
SB 797 addresses the undergrounding and insulation of California's electric utility distribution and transmission system facilities. The bill appears to establish requirements or incentives for utilities to place electrical infrastructure underground or improve insulation standards, though specific provisions remain unclear from the legislative history provided. This is part of ongoing efforts to modernize California's aging electrical grid.
Underground utilities and improved insulation can reduce wildfire risk by eliminating exposed power lines that spark fires during high-wind conditions—a critical issue in California given recent catastrophic wildfires. However, undergrounding is expensive and raises questions about cost allocation between utilities, ratepayers, and the state, potentially affecting electricity prices and utility compliance timelines.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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