Carbon County system resiliency

We’re taking actions to enhance reliability and reduce the risk of equipment-related wildfires. These steps include replacing aging overhead power lines in areas of higher wildfire risk with fire-resistant infrastructure, such as covered conductor, and undergrounding lines in some areas.

The Carbon County projects will rebuild five miles of transmission line and 60 miles of distribution line, of which 13 miles will be placed underground. These enhancements will help adapt our system to the growing threat of wildfire in the West.

The Carbon County projects will improve our system by enhancing the power lines which transmit and deliver electricity to our customers, helping to improve reliability even as we work to mitigate growing wildfire risks.

Undergrounding some distribution lines – where it makes the most sense to do so – will help reduce wildfire risks because the lines will no longer be able to come in contact with vegetation. Enhancements to remaining overhead distribution lines will include tree wire, which has a protective coating that reduces deterioration and helps avoid fire ignition risk. Tree wire is an effective way to upgrade power lines where undergrounding wouldn’t be as effective.

Other enhancements will also include non-expulsion fuses, covered distribution lines, steel poles, fire-resistant pole wraps or coatings, and potential reconstruction of parts of the line.

The Columbia 11 projects include the undergrounding of 12.2 miles of power lines and the replacement of 23.3 miles of overhead lines with tree wire.
- The Columbia 11 projects include Lower Canyon, Sunnyside, East Carbon, Columbia, Bruin Point, Sunnydale and Columbia Junction. The projects include just under one mile of U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands, nearly nine miles of county lands and nearly 26 miles of private lands.
The Columbia Woodside projects include 21 miles of overhead line rebuild and half a mile of undergrounded lines.
- The Columbia Woodside projects include Columbia Junction, Horse Canyon and Woodside. The projects include 18.5 miles of U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands and three miles of private lands.
The Columbia Coal Creek projects include rebuilding five and a half miles of overhead lines with covered conductor and replacing wooden poles with steel poles. A new 60-foot-wide right of way will encompass about 41 acres.
- This includes over two miles and 15 acres of U.S. Bureau of Land Management lands and over three miles and nearly 24 acres of private lands.

Columbia 11 projects:

To-date, 34.2 miles of line rebuild has been completed.
In Lower Canyon, removal of 48 poles and the installation of three steel poles is complete.
In Columbia, Sunnyside and East Carbon, removal of 30 poles installation of 551 new poles is complete.
In Bruin Point, removal of 95 poles is complete.

Columbia Woodside projects:

Columbia Coal Creek projects:

Columbia-Mounds | three segments | 2026

Between Columbia Substation and Mounds Substation, 7.1 miles of line rebuild is underway.
Removal of 40 poles and installation of 58 new poles is ongoing.