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A volunteer committee of Kent Woodlands residents is researching the feasibility of undergrounding our electrical and utility lines — and the case is compelling. According to PG&E, undergrounding reduces fire risk by 98%. With a single road in and out of our valley, dense tree cover, and aging overhead infrastructure, that risk is not abstract.
An October 2024 survey of Kent Woodlands residents received 240 responses and found 79% in favor of moving forward. Here are some important facts about what that would entail.
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How it would work: The committee proposes dividing Kent Woodlands into four or five “Undergrounding Assessment Districts”, beginning with a pilot. Each district would require an engineering study before any vote proceeds.
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What it costs: Per-home costs include roughly $10,000 for the engineering phase and $10,000 to $25,000 for a service lateral connection (trenching from the street to your home). The larger infrastructure cost — approximately $100,000 per home — would be financed through a 30-year municipal bond, reflected in your property taxes and transferable to future owners. Homes already fully undergrounded with no above-ground street wires would be excluded from costs and the vote.
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What's needed to proceed: Each district requires 70% approval to move forward. If the bond passes, all residents in that district are obligated to participate.
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Benefits beyond fire safety and other considerations: Fewer outages (however, when outages occur they may take longer to repair), reduced tree trimming, improved aesthetics, potential long-term insurance and property value advantages; but many months of disruptive road work and related noise.
Community meetings will be planned — watch for updates from KWPOA. If you would like more information or want to volunteer for the Undergrounding Committee, please contact Joel Ritch at jritch@kwpoa.com.
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