Tracy Hills residents press city for timeline after PG&E installs temporary overhead lines

Multiple Tracy Hills residents told the City Council on March 18 they were alarmed after Pacific Gas & Electric resumed work installing temporary overhead power poles along the neighborhood—s evacuation route and urged the city to press for a timeline to replace the overhead lines with underground service.

Speakers said PG&E held a town-hall meeting before restarting work but did not provide residents clear deadlines for a permanent undergrounding project. Residents said updated fire-risk mapping and recent grass-fire incidents outside the region heighten their concern about overhead lines on a critical evacuation route.

At least six speakers described steps they said they wanted the city to take: continue to press PG&E and the developer to submit and process an undergrounding proposal in parallel, provide transparent project timelines, and coordinate neighborhood updates. Several residents said they had difficulty obtaining direct responses from PG&E about timing and next steps.

Council members and staff said the city will continue to communicate with PG&E, the developer and the homeowner associations and will provide public updates; staff asked residents to provide contact information to facilitate follow-up. Council did not take immediate regulatory action at the meeting but asked staff to return with updates at future meetings and to keep residents informed of any permitting or parallel-application efforts.

One resident referenced the CPUC maps PG&E used in an earlier town hall and said the community is relying on more recent fire risk assessments used by insurers and other agencies. Residents asked the city to press PG&E to consider updated risk information in project planning.

City staff said they had facilitated a town hall meeting and will continue outreach. Council members said they would follow up and requested periodic status updates be provided to the community as the project proceeds.