Process for moving overhead power lines underground

Three options for moving overhead power lines underground

With each option, you must comply with different and detailed required procedures. These include working with: 

1. SRP’s Distribution New Business.
2. The Underground Conversion Service Area in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes, Sections 40-341 through 40-356. 
3. The Improvement District for underground utility and cable television facilities in accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 48-620.

Option 1: Use SRP’s Distribution New Business

As an SRP residential customer, through SRP Distribution New Business, you may request that SRP convert your property’s overhead power lines to underground. You can initiate an inquiry by contacting SRP in either of the following ways:

A conversion through SRP Distribution New Business is a straightforward and relatively simple way to convert residential overhead electric facilities to underground.

An SRP representative will meet with you on-site at your property to review options. Shortly after that, SRP will provide a cost estimate and explain the breakdown of responsibilities – both SRP’s and the customer’s. You will have time to review and consider the information as well as ask questions.

Should you decide to proceed, you will enter into a contract with SRP for the work. The contract will require the customer to pay SRP upfront as a condition of SRP beginning the undergrounding project.

As with other options of conversion to underground, coordination is required with communication providers (internet and telephone) whose facilities may be on the overhead poles.

Option 2: Establish an Underground Conversion Service Area

Property owners can propose Underground Conversion Service Areas to relocate overhead power lines underground in their neighborhood in accordance with the statutory requirements and process provided in Arizona Revised Statutes, Sections 40-341 through 40-356.

Before moving forward, it's important that you and your neighbors carefully read these statutes to familiarize yourselves with the statutory process and requirements:

Through an Underground Conversion Service Area, you and your neighbors can:

• Work together to assure that the underground service will be installed throughout your neighborhood. 
• Proportionately share the cost of conversion according to the amount of land owned by each individual. 

Underground Conversion Service Area costs vary and depend on several factors, including existing facilities. Individual costs are based on lot square footage (the larger the lot, the greater the cost). 

Who is responsible for the petition? 

You and your neighbors (fellow property owners) are responsible for completing the petition.

In most cases, one person is designated as the petition carrier – typically the first person to notify SRP about the proposed Underground Conversion Service Area.  In all events, the initial petition must be signed and verified, under penalty of perjury, by a property owner within the proposed Underground Conversion Service Area.

Sign and send your petition

Here’s what you need to gather and send to SRP for review: 

• The necessity for the proposed Underground Conversion Service Area.
• The promotion of convenience, necessity or welfare of the public.
• The name and address of the parcel owners within the proposed Underground Conversion Service Area as reflected on the records of the county assessor.
• Signatures of at least 60% of the property owners who hold at least 60% of the property square footage within the area. Include the signatures of both spouses when applicable.
• An accurate drawing of the proposed area, a list showing the square footage of each parcel or lot, and a list of all owners.
• The petition must be verified by one of the petitioners as to the information contained therein. For the SRP petition, the verification is made under penalty of perjury and must include a statement that the petition was presented to ALL property owners in the proposed conversion area, not just to those property owners in favor of SRP preparing a cost study.

SRP will prepare a cost estimate

SRP will then prepare a detailed study of the costs and put together detailed cost information for the project within 120 days. SRP’s cost study will include the total cost for SRP’s work and will include proportionate costs for each property owner. There is no charge for this cost study if the people in the area decide against the project.

What to expect once you receive an estimate

If you decide to move forward, you’ll need to provide SRP with a second petition requesting that SRP petition the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to establish the proposed area as an Underground Conversion Service Area.

This second petition must be:

• Signed by at least 60% of the property owners who represent at least 60% of the land within the area.
• Signed by both spouses when applicable.
• Submitted within 90 days after you receive your cost estimates.
• The petition must be verified by one of the petitioners as to the information contained therein. For the SRP petition, the verification is made under penalty of perjury and must include a statement that the petition was presented to ALL property owners in the proposed conversion area, not just to those property owners in favor of SRP preparing a cost study.

When considering submission of a second petition, property owners should be aware that the Underground Conversion Service Area process is governed by the provisions of Arizona Revised Statutes, Sections 40-341 through 40-356.

In accordance with the statutes, should the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors ultimately issue an order establishing the proposed underground conversion service as an Underground Conversion Service Area, the costs incurred in placing the facilities underground shall be apportioned among the owners of property within the proposed Underground Conversion Service Area.

In that event, property owners will be required to pay the costs within 60 days of completion of the conversion from overhead to underground or shall pay over time on terms (including interest) set by the Board of Supervisors, with such payment to be secured by a lien on the parcel. Such lien shall attach to the property owner’s parcel and be superior in interest to all other liens (including the property owner’s home mortgage, if applicable) other than a tax lien. Each property owner should review their home mortgage obligations to ascertain whether it is a breach of their home mortgage obligations to allow the statutorily mandated superior lien to be recorded against their parcel. This may be a consideration of a property owner in deciding to sign a second petition.

Further, in accordance with the statutes, property owners within an established Underground Conversion Service Area may be required to provide easements to SRP to allow SRP facilities to be placed on their property. Failure to abide by the statutory requirements will subject the property to disconnection from electrical service.

Once SRP receives your second petition:

• SRP will petition the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors while telephone and cable TV companies will petition the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) for an order creating the Underground Conversion Service Area.
• The Board of Supervisors and ACC will hold hearings to determine whether the project is feasible and establish the terms of repaying the utilities. 

If the controlling board and commission approve the Underground Conversion Service Area, they will direct the utilities to proceed with the conversion area. 

Note, should the Board of Supervisors establish the proposed area as an Underground Conversion Service Area, the payment obligations and easement requirements are imposed by statute on each property, including the up to 40% of property owners not signing the second petition.

Start the petition process Download the petition form to start the process. Download

Option 3: Establish an Improvement District

Another statutory option is for property owners within a neighborhood to coordinate with the municipality in which their neighborhood is located to begin the process of the municipality establishing an “Improvement District” for the purpose of relocating overhead power lines underground in their neighborhood in accordance with the statutory requirements and process provided in Arizona Revised Statutes, Section 48-620.

Before moving forward, you and your neighbors should carefully read the statute to familiarize yourselves with the statutory process and requirements:

• The Title 48 Improvement District process bears several similarities to the Title 40 Underground Conversion Service Area process but has differences as well. You and your neighbors should carefully review the statutes and consider the approach that makes sense for your neighborhood.
• For the Title 48 Improvement District process, your neighborhood coordinates initially with your municipality.
• Similar to the Title 40 process, the Title 48 Improvement District process requires petitions from neighbors. For Title 48, those petitions are to the municipality and the municipality coordinates with SRP regarding the cost estimate, which the municipality will present to the neighbors for approval in official municipality proceedings.
• If the neighbors vote in favor of establishing the Title 48 Improvement District, the municipality contracts with SRP for the construction.
• Each property’s proportionate share of the costs is calculated similar to the Title 40 calculation method. Under Title 48, the municipality may elect to participate in payment of the costs, thus lowering each property’s proportionate share.
• Upon completion of the project, the Title 48 Improvement District process allows for the municipality to record liens against those properties paying their proportionate shares of the costs over time, rather than paying in full.

Relocating power lines: Start to finish

The process of moving overhead electrical lines underground is a challenging, complex effort that can take several months or, in some cases, over a year from start to finish. 

Here is the typical series of the technical steps that SRP will perform to convert overhead to underground lines in the established Underground Conversion Service Area:

• Assess the area and design a new underground electrical distribution system. 
• Determine conduit and equipment needed to replace the overhead system to ensure each property’s current service needs are met. 
• Gather data for property lines, location of proposed trench routes and proposed electrical equipment in preparation for the easement acquisition process. 
• SRP hires a civil contractor to install the primary conduit and oversees trenching/directional drilling and conduit installation work.
• NOTE: The property owners are responsible for the service trench, conduit and conduit installation.
• As conduit installation is completed, SRP Construction will begin to install underground conductors in the new conduit system, install new pad-mounted equipment and energize the underground electrical distribution system.
• When the underground system is completed and energized, the overhead facilities will be disconnected and removed from the jobsite.
• SRP’s civil contractor will complete all necessary restoration work during and after the completion of construction work.

Frequently asked questions

Find answers to some of the most typical questions about underground conversions.