Why won the utility put lines underground and spare the trees?
Undergrounding of lines sounds like an aesthetic and safe alternative to overhead lines, and sometimes it is. But undergrounding comes with an extremely high price tag, coupled with longer outages and more difficult repairs in the event of a power failure. Pacific Gas and Electric Company supports a program, Rule 20, which has been approved by the California Public Utilities Commission, to underground existing overhead lines in areas where there will be general public benefits from the undergrounding as recommended by local counties and cities. You should find out where underground facilities are located before you dig on your property. Call Underground Service Alert (USA) at 1 (800) 227-2600 at least two working days before you dig.
