Pacific Power briefs Yreka on wildfire-hardening work; council presses on customer costs and ADA sidewalk issues

Pacific Power representatives told the Yreka City Council on July 21 that the utility has rebuilt distribution lines and begun replacing wooden poles with steel or fiberglass poles and installing covered conductor in high fire-threat parts of its territory, including more than 20 miles of work within Yreka.

Jill Drinkwater, California regional business manager for Pacific Power, said the work is safety-driven and intended to reduce ignition risk during wildfire season. "The safety of our communities and our customers is the sole driver for these critical improvements," Drinkwater said, describing covered conductor that "doesn't spark when it hits the ground" and replacement of expulsion fuses with nonexpulsion devices and reclosers that help sectionalize circuits.

Drinkwater gave a territorial overview and noted that more than 60% of Pacific Power's California service area falls into a high fire-threat classification; she said Yreka has been a local focus and reported more than 20 miles of covered conductor installed and more than 400 poles replaced in the town since 2020. The company said it plans to replace more than 120 miles of bare wire across the service area in 2026.

Council members pressed the company on the financial impacts for ratepayers and on operational issues. "Our power bills have more than doubled in the last two years," one council member said, describing notices about fee increases and asking how residents can get clearer information; Drinkwater referred rate and application questions to the California Public Utilities Commission process and pointed to the company's online notices and CARE/CARE+ assistance programs for income-qualified customers. Todd Andress, Pacific Power regional business manager, described the joint-use process when poles are replaced and said communications companies are given about 90 days to move lines after notification, which has led to delays in some locations.

Council members also raised immediate sidewalk-access concerns where old poles or delayed transfers impede ADA-compliant pathways; Pacific Power staff acknowledged the problem and offered to remind joint users and coordinate removals as they are able. The company emphasized that undergrounding is much more expensive and that the current program prioritizes targeted, above-ground upgrades to reduce ignition risk.

The presentation prompted no council motion but produced direction to staff and the company to follow up on communication, pole relocation timing, and public outreach about rate impacts.