On November 1, 2023, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced as of October 30, 197 miles of powerlines have been undergrounded and energized so far in 2023.[1] That tops the 180 miles of undergrounded powerlines in 2022 and the 73 miles in 2021, which was the year that the utility’s 10,000-mile Undergrounding Program was launched. The end-of-the-year target for 2023 is 350 miles. According to PG&E, undergrounding eliminates nearly 98% of the risk of wildfire ignition from electrical equipment for about $3.40 per month per customer from 2023-2026. According to the press release, an average of about 20 miles of undergrounded line will be energized each week through the end of the year. PG&E customers in Placerville, Murphys, Elk, and Potter Valley are among those now being served and protected by underground powerlines. Expanding PG&E's electric system underground in High Fire-Risk Areas (HFRAs) will help reduce wildfires caused by utility equipment, improve reliability, and reduce the need for safety-related power outages.

[1] https://www.pge.com/en/newsroom.html?pageID=b19403d2-b47d-495d-9124-851ffea6771f&ts=1698796800979