Planning commission recommends Rocky Mountain Power reliability project, flags ordinance 92‑1 language for clarification

On Aug. 14, 2025, the Town of Castle Valley Planning and Land Use Commission voted to recommend that the town council approve Rocky Mountain Power's nonroutine electric installation application intended to improve reliability in the town by adding a redundant three‑phase feed and reconfiguring lines on Shafer Lane.

Commissioners discussed the proposal at length, examined a map presented by the company, and emphasized two related points: (1) the project is intended to improve reliability by creating a looped, redundant supply and to rebalance phase loads; and (2) the town's Ordinance 92‑1, which generally requires underground electrical installations, contains language commissioners said is unclear about how to treat primary distribution lines versus private or branch connections.

Rocky Mountain Power representatives described the planned work as a single reliability project that combines two related tasks: constructing a redundant three‑phase line into town (creating an additional feed that will balance loads and reduce outage impact) and moving a line that currently crosses a residence on Shafer Lane so it no longer runs over the roof. The company said the long radial line that feeds the town will be shortened by the new configuration, and that the change will let the company balance customers across phases so that a loss of any single phase affects fewer customers.

Under the current engineering plan discussed at the meeting, the utility would remove four existing poles at the east end of Shafer Lane and install two poles: one "clean" pole to transition from overhead to underground and a second pole between two private lots where customers have agreed to grant an easement. The company said it will replace older poles where equipment is being upgraded and that some customers at the cul‑de‑sac have separately agreed to pay privately to put a short section underground; those privately funded underground installations are a separate process that the company and the residents will handle directly.

Commissioners asked the utility to pursue easements and surveys for the two lots that agreed to grant easements and to ensure any town recommendation includes the amended routing and pole plan presented at the meeting. Several commissioners said the language of Ordinance 92‑1 should be reviewed to make clearer distinctions between primary distribution realignments (which the town may require underground) and private branch or service installations (which are often handled case by case).

A motion to recommend approval to the town council, including the new routing and the understanding that removal of the four poles at the end of Shafer Lane is contingent on this project and on property owners agreeing to underground the cul‑de‑sac portion, was moved by Commissioner Jeff Whitney and seconded by Commissioner Janie Tough. Roll call was recorded as Jeff Whitney — yes; Janie Tough — aye; Marie Hawkins — aye; Dorshae — aye; and Brian — aye. The motion passed and the recommendation will be forwarded to the town council for their meeting.

Commissioners and the utility also discussed timing and permitting. The company said it would obtain easements where the work crosses private property, that public utility easements are typically present with lot development, and that cost‑sharing proposals for privately requested undergrounding are private agreements between the customers and Rocky Mountain Power. The utility noted a larger substation project remains a multi‑year effort and that this reliability project could proceed sooner; commissioners requested a clear map and a concise summary be included with the recommendation to the town council.