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PG&E outlines Highway 101 reconductoring to add 10–20 MW of capacity to Gonzales area
Summary
PG&E told the Gonzales City Council it plans a reconductoring project along Highway 101 to add a 21 kV feeder serving Gonzales, potentially bringing 10–20 megawatts to support industrial and housing growth; PG&E said in-service timing is conservatively set for December 2027 and depends on permitting and land acquisitions.
PG&E representatives briefed the Gonzales City Council on Nov. 19 about a reconductoring project along Highway 101 that the utility says will bring a new 21 kV feeder from Soledad to near Gloria Road on the outskirts of Gonzales.
"PG and E is making improvements to the local grid, and these improvements will enable additional housing, economic growth, enhanced electric system capacity," government representative Jasmine Venegas told the council, describing the work as a reconductoring project that will increase available feeder capacity.
PG&E said the project is expected to deliver roughly 10 to 20 megawatts of additional capacity "to and near the city of Gonzales," which the company said would be able to serve a pending cooler project that PG&E staff estimated requires about 9 megawatts. Venegas described the December 2027 in-service date as a conservative estimate that depends on permitting and land acquisitions by state and federal agencies.
Adrienne Thordson Weathers, a PG&E distribution engineering supervisor who joined the presentation, said some long-lead materials are on order and that the utility will have a clearer timeline by February. On reliability and design questions from council members, PG&E acknowledged exposure on the roughly 8-mile feed from Soledad and noted the project "meets all of our current standards from what I understand," while staff also said they would double-check planner details and consider additional protections for flashover and insulator issues.
Council members offered to assist with permitting and interagency contacts. Venegas said PG&E would continue quarterly updates and work with the city on permit coordination. No formal council action was required; the presentation was informational.
