City staff asked the Clemson City Council to approve a policy change request to Duke Energy that would allow the city’s undergrounding stipend to cover the secondary electric line between a service pole and the transformer.

City staff said the voluntary program, launched in July 2022, lets homeowners apply for a city/Duke program that moves the overhead service line from the pole to the meter underground. “Since we started, we have had 115 submissions. Of those, 32 went through the process, we have 29 pending and 54 decided not to move forward,” said Ally (city staff). The council heard that the stipend for residents was increased from $1,500 to $3,000 about a year ago.

Staff noted several property owners asked for the subsidy to cover not only the service conductor to the meter but also the secondary conductor that runs from the meter/transformer to the neighborhood transformer pole. Staff described that work as currently ineligible for the stipend under Duke’s rules but said Duke advised the city a formal letter could request that change. Allied staff estimated adding coverage for the secondary conductor would increase homeowner cost by roughly $800 to $1,000 depending on distance and site conditions.

Why it matters: staff argued that broader coverage would lower the out-of-pocket costs that led many applicants to stop the process and would improve reliability and post-storm safety for buried service installations. Councilmembers asked process questions but did not take final action during the meeting; staff noted unused program funds roll forward and staff will prepare the formal request to Duke Energy.

No formal vote was recorded on the change request at this meeting.