Council approves Rocky Mountain Power plan to add second 3‑phase feed to improve reliability

Rocky Mountain Power presented a plan to bring a second three‑phase feed into Castle Valley to diversify the town's electrical supply and reduce customer outages. The utility representative, Dan (S3), explained the plan would add poles, splice boxes and a splice-to‑underground section in some locations; customers at the end of Shafer Lane may voluntarily pay to put local service underground.

Dan described the reliability benefit: "So Rocky Mountain Power is wanting to improve reliability to the residents of Castle Valley" (presenter Dan, S3). He said a full underground alternative for the entire section would exceed $1.6 million and that the company evaluated overhead vs. underground tradeoffs to minimize ratepayer cost. RMP proposed installing a second 3‑phase line and certain new poles while removing several aging poles at the line ends.

Councilors raised concerns about the town ordinance that generally requires negotiation and a six‑month notice before primary lines are relocated underground; one councilor noted the formal notice period had not been observed for the poles that were already installed. Dan confirmed the town can request undergrounding to trigger shared-cost treatment and said his team will provide residents with individual cost estimates if neighbors want to pursue undergrounding for their segments.

After discussion the council moved to accept the Planning & Land Use Commission’s recommendation and approve the nonroutine electrical installation application as presented; council members recorded affirmative votes and at least one 'no' was noted during the roll call. Council directed staff to note on the record that any waivers of the ordinance's notice provision were not intended to set a broader precedent, and Dan said his team will improve notice procedures going forward.