River Road Fire Safety Improvements

Work starting soon on River Road Fire Safety Improvements

Chelan PUD has identified the overhead utilities along this section of River Road as a candidate for undergrounding because it meets several criteria for fire risk and constructability. This project will help reduce the risk of wildfire ignition during extreme weather conditions.

This project is part of a larger plan to reduce fire risk in the most vulnerable areas of the county. That plan includes equipment upgrades and pruning trees and shrubs away from lines.
Map of River Rd Fire Safety Improvements location

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Questions?

If you have questions or comments about the project, please email customeroutreach@chelanpud.org or call (509) 661-8563.

Do you have an overhead secondary electric service and/or an overhead fiber drop at your home?

  • You should have received a postcard if you have an overhead service(s). If you did not, please contact customeroutreach@chelanpud.org or 509-661-8563.
  • If you are interested in undergrounding your service(s), please complete the necessary forms by December 31, 2022. You will need to complete a separate form for each type of service.
  • For electric secondary conversion, please complete the New Service Application.
  • For fiber drop conversion, please complete the NTE Relocation Application.
  • If you prefer a hard copy, please contact service@chelanpud.org or 509-661-8400.
  • Customers are not required to underground services. The overall project is not dependent on customers conversions.
  • Typically, customers are responsible for the entire cost to convert secondary services from overhead to underground. As part of the overall conversion project, customers can share these costs with the PUD.
  • Customers will be responsible for the earth work (providing the path), conduit, and L&I inspection. The PUD will provide the electric secondary service wire and/or the fiber drop.
  • Customers whose service remains overhead, a pad-mount transformer will be installed near the primary line.
  • Customers who do not contact us by December 31, 2022, will not be considered for cost sharing.

September 2022 update

What’s happening now?

  • A PUD contractor will begin working in the area in mid-September.
  • The contractor is preparing the area for the future conversion, anticipated to begin in 2023.
  • The contractor will be installing some underground equipment, boring across the road in some places, and installing a new fiber tower near the intersection with Juneberry Lane.
  • Once work begins, it will last about three weeks.
  • Typical working hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Easements

  • When we began communications in the spring, if you were informed we needed an easement from you AND we haven’t contacted you again since then, we no longer need an easement from you.
  • The design was updated allowing us to need fewer easements and our staff has communicated with everyone from whom we are requesting an easement.

What’s next?

  • Our contractors will be back in the spring to continue excavation work and installation of underground equipment.
  • We will reach out again before work begins in 2023.

June 2022 update

The PUD hosted a Neighborhood Meeting on June 11, 2022 in Plain to inform stakeholders about the project and discuss potential impacts to properties.