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Rocky Mountain Power previews summer undergrounding work in Alta; town seeks coordination on traffic and permits
Summary
Rocky Mountain Power Project Manager Richard Bard told the council crews will install conduit and underground primary distribution lines this construction season to reduce wildfire risk and improve reliability. Work will concentrate on Summer Road and selected sections of the canyon; the utility pledged coordination with the town, ski resort and Forest Service to manage traffic and event impacts.
Rocky Mountain Power representatives briefed the council on a wildfire-hardening and undergrounding project planned to begin installation of primary conduit this construction season. Project manager Richard Bard said the utility plans to underground most 12.5 kV distribution circuits in the project area, coordinate scheduling with the ski resort and U.S. Forest Service, and provide advance notifications to homeowners and event organizers to minimize disruption.
Bard said crews will prioritize conduit installation this calendar year and that some construction work is likely to extend into the following season. He explained that some transmission-level lines (the "Brighton feed") will remain overhead in areas where undergrounding is technically or fiscally constrained, and that other mitigations (special conductors and public-safety shutoffs during high-risk weather) will be used where appropriate. Residents asked about service conversions (switching household meters from overhead to underground), timing, and construction windows; the utility encouraged coordinated service-request scheduling to bundle meter conversions where practical.
Council members and staff asked for clear public communications, interactive maps and a weekly coordination meeting once construction begins. Rocky Mountain Power indicated crews will generally work Monday–Friday, seek to avoid peak summer-hour disruptions where possible, and coordinate with town staff and contractors.
