PG&E Completes Coffey Park Temporary Power Lines

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — PG&E announced Tuesday that crews have finished installing temporary overhead power lines in the Coffey Park neighborhood of Santa Rosa, the energy company. Santa Rosa-based general construction crews for PG&E installed some 226 poles and 125 transformers throughout the fire-ravaged neighborhood. Coffey Park will have power by Friday, Dec. 22, according to Deanna Contreras, PG&E spokeswoman.

The neighborhood was among the hardest hit when the devastating wildfires burned through the area in October, destroying more than 5,000 homes in Sonoma County.

"Because the safety of the communities we serve is our top priority, we installed LED lights on most of the poles so the streets in the neighborhood and the current residents could have light along with the restored power," said Marty Sunday, electric superintendent for PG&E’s Sonoma Division. "This signals an important milestone in our wildfire response and recovery process and showcases the progress we’re making for our neighbors, friends, families and for the City of Santa Rosa and Sonoma County."

Eventually, according to PG&E, temporary overhead power lines will be replaced with an underground electric system, which is what Coffey Park had before the fires.

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Work is ongoing to install temporary overhead power lines in the nearby communities of Mark West Springs Estates and Larkfield Estates, which were also ravaged in the fires. Power there is expected to be turned on after the New Year, Contreras said.

"The electricity in those areas will help property owners rebuild and will also allow PG&E to be ready for those service requests in order to meet customer demands more efficiently," Contreras said.

PG&E’s Sonoma Division has received approximately 540 requests for service, with most of them in Santa Rosa, the spokeswoman noted. Requests for service can be made through the Dedicated Customer Connections website, at Pge.com/cco. New service installations, temporary construction power or other services can be initiated and tracked through the site.

PG&E says it is offering no-cost installation and removal of temporary electric service to eligible customers in Sonoma County. Inquires about the program can be directed to PG&E's Building Renovation Service Center at 877-743-7782 as customers create their rebuilding plans to confirm eligibility and initiate the process with PG&E.

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