Park City system resiliency
Improving safety and reliability
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 with higher wildfire risk with fire-resistant infrastructure, such as covered conductors and undergrounding lines in some areas.
In total, approximately 20 miles of line rebuild projects are planned in the Park City area. These enhancements will help improve the reliability of our system as we adapt to the growing threat of wildfire in the West.
Project need and benefits
- The Park City projects will improve the safety and reliability of distribution lines to help prevent wildfire.
- Replacing wooden poles with steel poles and using covered conductor on lines in the area will significantly reduce wildfire risk.
Local impact
The Park City projects are broken into segments that will be worked on simultaneously:
- Jordanelle 11 & 12 include the placement of covered conductor on 1.4 miles of overhead lines and the undergrounding of 5.4 line miles. Wooden poles will be replaced with steel poles.
- Snyderville 16 will convert 4.9 miles of distribution line with covered tree-wire or underground them in an effort to upgrade fire-safe standards. The project will take place across seven phases. Aging wood poles will be replaced with 32 steel poles.
- Silver Creek to Kamas replaces 8.3 miles of distribution line. The project includes pole replacement of aging poles with fire-wrapped poles.
- Judge to Midway will rebuild 9.25 miles of transmission line and 2.5 miles of distribution line replacing the 46-kilovolt line with 138-kilovolt framing and steel structures.
- Park City to Judge will rebuild 3.5 miles of distribution that is currently underbuilt on the Park City to Judge transmission line.
Progress to-date
- Summit Park 11 (see project map) – The project team has completed design and has received permitting from Summit County. Conductor and poles are currently being replaced. The north and frontage road sections of the project began construction in fall 2024 and the south section will begin construction in early summer 2025. The project is expected to be completed in summer 2025.
- Coalville 13 (see project map) – The project team has completed Coalville 13 surveys and design. The project team is currently working through permitting. Construction will begin once permits are in place, with expected completion in July 2025.
- Jordanelle 11 & 12 (see project map)
- For Segment 11 along Highway 40, technicians have completed surveys and design. The project team is currently working through permitting, with construction planned for completion in summer 2025.
- For Segment 12, work will be performed in the area near the dam. Surveys and design are complete. Once the permitting process, now underway, is finished, construction will begin and should be completed in summer 2025.
- Jordanelle 13 (see project map) – The project team has completed design and surveys. Permitting and construction will begin this year and are expected to be completed in summer 2026.
- Snyderville 16 – Crews have completed installation of 32 new 50-foot poles and removed the old poles. A large portion of the distribution line is being placed underground.
- Silver Creek to Kamas includes work on the distribution system and the transmission system. Fire wrap has been installed on the transmission poles. Both the distribution and transmission portions should be completed and in service by September 2025.
- Park City to Judge includes work on the distribution system and the transmission system. Project engineering is complete. Construction on the distribution system started in September 2023 and is expected to be completed by July 2025. Transmission construction will run from July 2025 to October 2025. The underground portion is 80% complete.
- Judge to Midway includes work on the distribution system and the transmission system. Underground distribution is 80% complete and transmission is 75% complete. The project is currently working through the conditional use permitting process in Midway. Poles 1-15 and 36-118 have been replaced. This project is being constructed in close coordination with the Park City Municipal Corporation, Wasatch County, the U.S. Forest Service, the Summit Land Conservancy, Deer Valley Mountain Resort and Midway City.
What's next
Jordanelle 11 & 12 (see project map) | two segments | 2025
- Conditional use permit approved by Wasatch County in early March
- Highway 40 – Summer 2025
- This portion of the project is actively undergoing work.
- Dam – Summer 2025
- This portion of the project is actively undergoing work, including coordination with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation on cultural surveys prior to completing the work on bureau property.
Park City to Judge | 2025
- Crews will complete work to energize the underground distribution line circuit.
- Technicians will demolish underbuilt distribution.
Judge to Midway | 2025
- Poles 119-133 are scheduled for replacement in 2025.
- Underbuilt distribution will be removed in summer 2025.
- Completion of transmission and distribution will take place by the end of summer 2025.
Based on guidance from the order issued by the Utah Public Service Commission regarding Rocky Mountain Power’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan, the company is suspending some system strengthening projects.