RULE 20A/20B/20C UNDERGROUND UTILITY DISTRICTS
The Rule 20A and Rule 20B (In-Lieu Fee) Underground Utility
Programs are currently administered by the Utilities Section.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulates
privately owned telecommunications, electric, natural gas, water, railroad,
rail transit, and passenger transportation companies.
UNDERGROUNDING PROJECT SELECTION CRITERIA
CPUC selection criteria for projects:
- Heavy concentration of overhead lines
- Heavy vehicular or pedestrian traffic volumes
- Street passes through scenic/civic/recreation area
- One block or 600 feet of undergrounding required
City of San Jose selection criteria for projects:
- Parks or Redevelopment area
- Complement City capitol improvements
- Gateway streets and the core downtown area
- Coordinated with Light Rail Transit Projects
RULE 20A PROGRAM - Under Rule 20A, Pacific Gas
& Electric Company (PG&E) allocates funds (on a calendar year
basis) to replace existing overhead electrical facilities with underground
electrical facilities within the communities it serves. Similar rules,
tariffs and legislation require Pacific Bell to budget funds for the conversion
of their own facilities within the districts legislated for Rule 20A funding.
Rule 20 Ordinances
RULE 20B (IN-LIEU FEE) PROGRAM - The In-Lieu Utility Undergrounding
Fee Program was established to meet the need to implement an equitable
and expedient process of requiring undergrounding of existing overhead
utilities associated with new construction by private developers.
The City ordinance requires that developers pay a fee
of $395 per frontage foot in-lieu of requiring the developers to perform
the overhead-to-underground conversion along the street frontage where
their development is occurring. Only projects that develop adjacent to
designated streets as defined in the Municipal Code are subject to the
undergrounding in-lieu fee conditions.
Fees are collected in areas with future undergrounding
potential. In-Lieu fees are programmed to be expended in these areas.
Undergrounding is accomplished through the City's establishment
of large aggregated projects rather than requiring developers to perform
the undergrounding on a piecemeal basis. This results in more efficient
use of engineering staff and construction crews resulting in lower unit
costs for design and construction. The design and undergrounding work
has been performed by the City and also, PG&E and Pac Bell by means
of an agreement with the City.
RULE 20C PROGRAM - Neighborhood groups, business
associations or others can fund undergrounding by working with the utility
companies directly.
Before and After
Photos
More Information
Califonia
Public Utilities Commision
Pacific
Gas & Electric Company
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