History

How power travels to, through and from Glenbrook

We have learned a lot about the way power travels to, through and from Glenbrook. 

Historically we receive power from Carson City to our substation, and from Glenbrook’s substation power is distributed through the community.  The system is structured to transmit power south to Round Hill, and north to Incline.  Additionally, we can and do RECEIVE power from both Incline and Round Hill in times of outages, maintenance etc.  This redundant system helps to keep the lights on.  

As you may have noted driving east on Hwy 50, the Carson City line has been down for a few years, and is currently being rebuilt on steel poles with covered wires.  The rebuild of that line will be completed by Fall 2023.  The transmission line running out Slaughterhouse Canyon is also scheduled for rebuilding pending Forest Service permits. 

These lines that go North and South from Glenbrook’s substation are the primary and secondary lines that must be undergrounded, and why this project matters to the WHOLE community.  These lines are old, carry high voltage, and are a clear fire danger.  

This project is focused on undergrounding the primary and secondary feed lines not about service to residences.  There are very few residences who have legacy overhead feed.    

History of The Problem

California’s worst wildfire seasons measured by property damage and deaths were in 2017 and 2018 (the incidence of such wildfires remains undiminished). State fire investigators have determined that sparks from Pacific Gas and Electric overhead power lines responsible for many of the fires. That includes the state’s deadliest fire ever, the Camp Fire, a wildfire started by power lines which killed 85 people, obliterated the northern California town of Paradise, and caused an estimated $16.5 billion in damages.  Pacific Gas and Electric Company, the largest utility company in the U.S., was bankrupted by these disasters. 

In February 2020, the idea to underground all utilities in Glenbrook was conceived, spurred by a succession of unprecedented northern California wildfires, including the Dixie, Caldor and Tamarack fires in the western region that includes Lake Tahoe Basin. Some of the worst blazes were sparked by above ground electrical utilities and ended with catastrophic results. It has become even more clear over the past few years that action is urgently needed.

Glenbrook has one road for access and egress into and out of our community. Although some Glenbrook residences developed in the 1970s have undergrounded lines, residences predating that development generally have no lines underground, and in fact their overhead lines are among the oldest in the Basin. Despite the seeming difference between old and new, Glenbrook is one community, with one way in and one way out. With overhead utilities distributed through much of the property, a wildfire that starts in Glenbrook will not observe property lines.