Skip to main content Skip to site search
City of Berkeley

Top Bar

  • Housing Authority
  • Public Library
  • Rent Board
  • School District
City of Berkeley
  • City
    Services
    • Explore city services, report issues online, pay parking tickets

      More about city services

      • Report & Pay
      • Parking
      • Trash & Recycling
      • Getting Around
      • Event Permits & Rentals
      • Livable Neighborhoods
      • Streets, Sidewalks, Sewers, and Utilities
      • Birth & Death Certificates
      • Domestic Partnership
      • Community GIS Portal
      • Current Service Notices
      Report Issues online
      pay parking ticket
      residential parking permits
  • Community &
    Recreation
    • Explore news and events, adopt a pet, visit a city park or pool

      MORE ABOUT COMMUNITY & RECREATION

      • Events
      • News
      • Parks & Recreation
      • Seniors
      • Volunteering
      • Animal Care Services
      • Civic Arts
      • Waterfront
      • Affordable Housing in Berkeley
      • Community Services
      adopt a pet
      visit adventure playground
      reserve swim session
  • Safety &
    Health
    • Get vaccinated for COVID-19, report a crime, access homeless services

      MORE ABOUT SAFETY & HEALTH

      • COVID-19
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Fire
      • Public Health
      • Police
      • Police Accountability
      • Mental Health
      • Homeless Services
      covid vaccines
      covid testing
      covid data
  • Construction &
    Development
    • Apply for a permit, schedule an inspection, research zoning policies

      MORE ABOUT Construction & Development

      • Permits & Design Parameters
      • Seismic Safety
      • Green Building
      • Land Use & Development
      permit service center
      schedule inspection
      look up zoning
  • Doing
    Business
    • Apply for a business license, get business assistance, find bid & proposal opportunities

      MORE ABOUT Doing Business

      • Economic Development
      • Operating in Berkeley
      • Working with the City
      apply for business license
      get business assistance
      bid to work with the city
  • Your
    Government
    • Attend a City Council or commission meeting, apply for jobs, look up City holidays

      MORE ABOUT Your Government

      • About Us
      • Boards & Commissions
      • City Council
      • Elections
      • Financial Information
      • Jobs
      • Our Work
      • Public Records
      • City Holidays
      • Lobbyist Registration
      • City Audits
      apply for a job
      city council meetings
      boards & commissions
  • Housing Authority
  • Public Library
  • Rent Board
  • School District

You are here

  • Home
  • City Services
  • Streets, Sidewalks, Sewers, and Utilities
  • Utility Undergrounding
Share Print

Utility Undergrounding

Find information about utility undergrounding guidelines, benefits, various programs, related documents, contacts, and links.

Utility undergrounding is the process of replacing overhead power lines and other overhead utilities with underground power lines and associated utilities. Undergrounding has benefits, including: 

  • Possible reduced maintenance costs 
  • Improved utility reliability during severe weather 
  • Improved public safety 
  • Reduced fire risk
  • Aesthetics/ Improved views

Neighborhoods can volunteer to self-fund utility undergrounding projects by forming a utility undergrounding district. For more information, please read the Underground Utilities Assessment Districts Guidelines For Prospective Neighborhoods or contact Public Works at pwengineering@cityofberkeley.info. 

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and PG&E have a program for undergrounding utilities, commonly known as Rule 20. The rule allows for three different funding models: 

  • Rule 20A: Rule 20A projects are typically in areas of a community that are used most by the general public. These projects are paid for by customers through future electric rates, referred to as Rule 20A Work Credits. Future funding will no longer be available due to recent California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) revisions to the Rule 20A program that eliminates the accrual of Rule 20A Credits after 2022.
  • Rule 20B: Rule 20B projects are usually done with larger developments. The majority of the costs are paid for by the developer or applicant.
  • Rule 20C: Rule 20C projects are usually smaller projects involving a few property owners and the costs are almost entirely borne by the applicants.

The City is exploring funding options for utility undergrounding, and more information can be found in the Conceptual Study to Underground Utility Wires in Berkeley.

Past Events

  • UUD #48 Community Meeting
    January 12, 2022 0 Documents

    There are no documents associated with this event

    Link

    Recording

Related Documents

Document
  • Berkeley Underground Utility Districts (122.95 KB)
Document
  • Underground Utilities Assessment Districts Guidelines For Prospective Neighborhoods (165.43 KB)
Document
  • Conceptual Study To Underground Utility Wires In Berkeley (22.13 MB)
Document
  • Study to Underground Utility Wires in Berkeley Phase 3 Report (27.95 MB)
In this section
Streets, Sidewalks, Sewers, and Utilities
  • Street Repair
  • Street Sweeping
  • Utility Permits
  • City Trees and the Coast Live Oak Ordinance
  • Traffic Advisories
  • Utility Undergrounding
  • Utility Services
  • Sidewalk Repair
  • Private Sewer Lateral
  • Sewers
  • Storm Water

News

Christmas tree

Dispose of holiday trees properly to keep them off streets, sidewalks

Telegraph Ave from Russell St

On Oct. 26, learn and give input on plans to redesign Telegraph Avenue

Haste Street parked cars in Southside Area of Berkeley

Paid visitor parking adds another way to travel to certain Southside blocks

Ashby BART station

Oct. 3 meeting: new plaza, street design at Ashby BART station to better serve community

More News
Department of Public Works
Email: PublicWorks@CityofBerkeley.info
Phone: (510) 981-6300

Related BMC

  • BMC Chapter 16.24
infrastructure

Provide state-of-the-art, well-maintained infrastructure, amenities, and facilities

View Our Strategic Plan

WE'RE HERE TO HELP

Connect with us online, by phone, or in person.

Footer Top

Report Online (510) 981-2489 Visit
City of Berkeley
2180 Milvia St, Berkeley, CA 94704

Footer Social

Footer Right

  • Sign Up for Our Newsletter
  • Get alerted about emergencies

Footer

  • Departments
  • Permits
  • Records Online
  • News
  • Events
  • Contact Us

Footer Bottom

  • Accessibility
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Policy
  • Website Feedback
 

Translation Disclaimer

© 2023 City of Berkeley All rights reserved.