July 2005 - NorCal PUG

PIPE USERS GROUP
Northern California
MINUTES
July 19st , 2005
Attendees:
Cindy Preuss
Jonathan Lee
Anna Chrissanthis
Sal Singh
My Huynh
Steve Krautheim
Joyce Carlson
Jennifer Glynn
Rocco Colicchia
Luella Gabriel
Harris & Associates
WVSD
Kennedy/Jenks Consultants
CSD-1
CSD-1
Novato Sanitary District
City of Oakland
Brown & Caldwell
Harris & Associates
Harris & Associates
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]
Presentation: Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Undergrounding
Overhead Utility Lines, by Rocco Colicchia and Luella Gabriel, Project Managers from Harris
& Associates.
At the request of many meeting participants, the Overhead Utility Undergrounding presentation
may be found on the PUG website at norcalpug.com. Only a brief synopsis of the presentation
is described herein.
Rocco and Luella touched upon many aspects of utility undergrounding, including:
•
which utility rules and franchise agreements govern utility undergrounding,
•
the differences between Rules 20A, B, and C,
•
the processes involved in undergrounding utilities depending upon the governing rule
or agreement, and
•
cost responsibilities of agencies affiliated with utility undergrounding.
Handouts: Luella and Rocco distributed handouts that may be found on the website, and
brought a set of utility undergrounding design plans for a project designed by Harris that
interested participants may review during the meeting.
Executive:
Non-profit application status: Jonathan will follow up with his contact that’s willing to complete
the application on our behalf. The goal is to have the application done mid-October of this year.
Treasury status: Harris is ready for Cindy’s and Allen’s signatures for the bank account. Allen
met with Harris’ representatives to make sure the transition is a smooth one.
New member applications: These were to be sent following June’s meeting, although no one’s
seen anything come through the mail yet. Allen has all the materials needed to send these out,
so Jonathan will check in with him on the status.
Minutes by:
Cindy Preuss, Harris & Associates
Secretary, Nor Cal PUG
1
Task Group Reports:
Website maintenance: Cindy welcomes feedback on the new site at [email protected] . She also requests notification of upcoming calendar events that may be posted, as
we’re currently very lean in this area.
Presentation coordination: Cindy and Joyce are to coordinate for the second series
presentation on permitting (DFG, USACE, Coastal Commission, etc.). Help/referrals are
requested.
General Discussion:
Western Chapter NASTT: The mini No-Dig conference is tentatively scheduled for November
15 & 16 in Phoenix, AZ. The regional conference will include presentations selected from the
2005 national No-Dig conference, and is being held for those that typically can’t afford to travel
to the national conferences. No price has yet been set for this conference, and details on exact
location are TBD.
National No-Dig Conference Update: Cindy and Jen just returned from a program committee
meeting where abstracts were selected for the upcoming 2006 No-Dig Conference. Abstract
submittals pertaining to legal issues are needed, and therefore the deadline for abstracts in this
category only has been extended. Anyone interested in submitting should do so immediately.
Submissions may go to either Jen or Cindy for forwarding on to the rest of the program
committee.
Potholing/USA North: Last month potholing was discussed as it relates to design and
construction. USA North has been holding regular meetings to establish standardized methods
for potholing. The question was posed as to whether PUG is interested in establishing a voice
in that group so that we may offer input and have a say in what happens. It was unanimous that
this is of relevance, importance, and consequence to PUG, and that we’d like to investigate the
possibility of having PUG representation at the USA North monthly meetings. Joyce will check
with Carl Sibley at the City of Oakland, who is on the board of directors for USA North.
PUG Sem inar: The Call for Papers should be in the works for the upcoming 2006 PUG
Seminar. Also, H’s Lordships (hosting location) will need the deposit soon.
PUG Seminar Administrator: We need help with planning the PUG seminar, from beginning to
end. Jen may have a contact that would be willing to take on administration for the seminar,
and will look into it.
Announcements/Upcoming Events: There’s a new utility locator in town: Exaro Technologies
Corporation utilizes vacuum excavation for utility locating. Cindy will request additional
information to distribute to PUG members.
Next Meeting:
Our next meeting will be held TUESDAY, AUGUST 16, 2005 at the offices of Brown and
Caldwell. The topic will be on the Permitting: Environmental Review of Pipelines . Please call
(925)-210-2307 or e-mail Jennifer Glynn ([email protected]) to RSVP.
Minutes by:
Cindy Preuss, Harris & Associates
Secretary, Nor Cal PUG
2
Utility Undergrounding
Luella Gabriel
Rocco Colicchia
Utility Undergrounding
Agenda
• Utility Rules
• Who pays for what
• What’s the process
• What does Harris do
• Q&A
Utility Undergrounding
• Overhead utilities typically underground their
facilities either by California Public Utilities
Commission (CPUC) rules (PG&E, SBC) or
by franchise agreement (Comcast).
• The rules that govern underground for PG&E
and SBC have three parts. The Comcast
agreement also has different parts.
• The differences between the parts are related
to who benefits and who pays.
Utility Undergrounding
Rule 20A/32.1 - PG&E/SBC will replace
existing overhead facilities with underground
at its expense. Comcast will usually follow a
similar application and underground at its
expense.
• Along public streets
• Roads
• Private lands where satisfactory rights have
been obtained provided that:
Utility Undergrounding
Rule 20A/32.1
•
•
•
•
•
Heavy concentration of overhead, or
Heavy volume of pedestrian traffic, or
Civic area or scenic, or
Arterial or collector (PG&E only). and
Must be at least one block or 600’ and both
sides of the street.
Utility Undergrounding
Rule 20A/32.1
• City receives an allocation (from PG&E) for planning.
• Allocation is based on ratio of overhead meters.
• Allocation is not money.
• PG&E, SBC and Comcast, pay to underground their
facilities.
• Property owner pays to install conduit and boxes
(electric, telephone and cable TV) on private property
and modify the service panel to accept underground.
• City pays for permits and notices.
• Rates include undergrounding that has already been
completed.
Utility Undergrounding
Rule 20B/32.2 - Not a Rule 20A/32.1 or not enough
allocation. Utilities and Applicant (City, Developer,
Neighborhood Group, or Underground District
(District)) share in the cost.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
At least one block or 600’ and both sides of the street.
Applicant is responsible for the trenching, conduit and substructure
installation.
Property owner pays to to install conduit and boxes on private property
and modify the service panel to accept underground.
Applicant pays for the difference between the cost to complete the
electric system and the equivalent overhead system (PG&E only)
Applicant pays for the engineering, project management and inspection
for SBC.
Applicant typically pays for Comcast cabling.
Plus ITCC (if no assessment district)
Utility Undergrounding
Rule 20C/32.3 - Not and Rule 20A/32.1 or a
Rule 20B/32.2. Applicant (City, Developer,
Neighborhood Group, or Underground District
(District)) pays for all of the cost.
• Less than one block or 600 feet.
• One or both sides of the street.
• Applicant pays for all and receives a credit for
the salvage.
• Plus ITCC
Rule 20A/32.1
– ALLOCATION –
The electric utility company notifies
communities of allocation credits,
per utility rule, that can be used
toward planning undergrounding
projects.
– LONG RANGE PLAN –
Planning Committee develops its 5year plan, and the City/County
passes Enabling Ordinance and
creates a Utility District.
– USING ALLOCATIONS–
Identify community’s available
Allocation Credits and estimate the
costs of potential undergrounding
projects.
– SHORT RANGE PLAN –
Planning Committee begins to prioritize
local projects, and works to plan specific
conversion projects.
Process
– RESOLUTION –
City/County holds public
hearing and passes resolution
for specific undergrounding
project, and the boundaries of the
project are established.
– ENGINEERING –
City/County works to acquire
easements and other necessary
enabling documentation. Utility
begins initial engineering for project
budgeting.
– CONSTRUCTION –
Project build-out including
trenching, pulling cable, service
conversions, energizing and
overhead pole removal.
– CLOSE PROJECT –
Complete financial accounting.
Subtract the actual cost of the
project from the communities
available allocation credits.
Rule 20A - TYPICAL
City seeks info on
undergrounding.
City prepares
Engineer's report.
City meets with utilities.
Determination is made
on who will be the
trenching lead.
Trench design and
Form B are
approved by the
utilities.
Trench lead prepares
final trench composite
plans and form B.
Detailed
engineering by
Utilities.
Trenching goes out to
bid.
Trench lead prepared
intent plans and
coordinates with utility
agencies. Also
prepares any
easement acquisitions
and plats.
Award bid.
Start trenching and
box installation.
Contracts and partial
payments to Utilities.
Install streetlights.
Convert services
to underground
system.
Energize underground
system.
Utilities install their
underground facilities.
Start service panel
conversions and
installation of
service conduits.
Energize
streetlights from
underground
system.
Once all of the
services and
streetlights have
been converted to
the underground
system, remove
overhead system.
Last utility removes
poles.
Complete paving.
Close out project.
Rule 20B - TYPICAL
City/Underground
District (District)
seeks info on
undergrounding.
YES
City requests
petition to
determine interest.
Council votes
to approve
assessment
district
YES
NO
District hires Harris to
provide engineering
and project
management services.
Project deposits for
Harris and utilities
are determined and
collected.
District
approves
Engineer's
Report.
Preliminary (not to
exceed) costs are
delivered to City and
neighborhood group for
approval.
Harris prepares
Intent Plans and
Engineer's Report.
Obtains info from
utilities and
estimates trench
and substructure
costs.
Award bid.
Start trenching and
substructure
installation.
NO
No further
action.
Assessment is
approved and
funded.
District
circulates and
delivers petition
to City
No further
action.
Detailed
engineering by
Harris and Utilities.
Trenching and
substructure
installation
goes out to bid.
Contracts and payment
to Utilities.
Install streetlights.
Convert services
to underground
system.
Energize
underground
system.
Utilities install their
underground facilities.
Property owners
start service panel
conversions and
installation of
service conduits.
Energize
streetlights from
underground
system.
Once all of the
services and
streetlights have
been converted to
the underground
system, remove
overhead system.
Last utility
removes poles.
Complete paving.
Close out project.
Rule 20B
Qualification: Undergrounding of all overhead utilities on both sides of a street
for at least one block or 600 feet, whichever is less. May also apply to roads or
right-of-ways through civic areas/public recreation areas or scenic areas of
interest to the general public or where land rights acceptable to the utilities are
granted.
Cost Responsibilities
Applicant (City, Developer,
Neighborhood Group
or Underground District)
Trenching
Excavation
Backfill
Conduit
Feeder Conduit
Substructures
Non-Refundable payment equal to the estimated cost to install the electric,
telephone and cable TV distribution system including estimating and project
management.
Service trench, conduit, boxes and backfill on private property.
Service conductor in excess of 100 feet (PG&E).
ITCC tax
PG&E
Betterments
Non-Rule 20B work
Removal of the overhead system
Customer credit of an equivalent overhead system
Customer credit for salvage
Service conductor in the street and 100 feet from the property line.
SBC
Betterments
Non-Rule 32.2 work
Removal of the overhead system
Comcast
Betterments
Franchise agreement provisions
Prepared by Harris & Associates.
July, 2005