ALJ/CMW/lil Date of Issuance 5/7/2010

Decision 10-05-006 May 6, 2010

BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Application of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a California corporation, for a Permit to Constuct the Cabrillo-Santa Ynez 115 kV Power Line Reconductoring Project pursuant to General Order 131-D (U39E).

Application 09-07-010 (Filed July 9, 2009)

DECISION GRANTING PACIFIC GAS AND ELECTRIC COMPANY
A PERMIT TO CONSTRUCT THE CABRILLO - SANTA YNEZ RECONDITIONING PROJECT

1. Summary

This decision grants Application 09-07-010 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) for a permit to construct the Proposed Project known as the Cabrillo - Santa Ynez 115 kilovolt (kV) Power Line Reconductoring Project (Proposed Project) pursuant to General Order 131-D, between the cities of Lompoc and Buellton, California. In this Application, PG&E asserts that the Cabrillo - Santa Ynez 115 kV Power Line is at risk of deteriorating beyond acceptable reliability levels. Approval of this Application allows PG&E to improve transmission reliability and provide sufficient peak period transmission voltage for over 14,000 customers in western Santa Barbara County. This power line is also one segment of an approximately 80-mile 115 kV transmission loop that serves over 71,000 customers in the general area between Santa Maria, Lompoc, Santa Ynez, and Solvang.

The Proposed Project would:

1. Reconductor, or replace the wires on, approximately 14.1 miles of the existing 14.6-mile-long, single circuit, power line. PG&E proposes to reconductor in place within existing easements rather than to create an entirely new transmission corridor.

2. Replace the existing corroded conductors beginning approximately one half-mile east of Cabrillo Substation and ending at Santa Ynez Switching Station. The new conductors will not change the capacity or the length of the line, but will provide enhanced voltage support.

3. Replace 125 existing wood poles in order to support the new heavier conductors and to meet General Order 95 clearance standards. The new poles will be direct-buried, light-duty steel poles and above ground heights would not change significantly except at two locations where poles would be 5 to 12 feet taller than existing poles in order to provide adequate ground clearance and reduce electro and magnetic fields near residences.

As the Lead Agency for environmental review, we find the Final Mitigated Negative Declaration prepared for this project meets the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act.¹

This proceeding is closed.

¹ Public Resources Code Section 21000, et seq.