A Nevada City utility undergrounding project nearly a decade in the making can now move forward with funding from the county.
Nevada County supervisors on Tuesday voted to transfer $500,000 in Rule 20A credits to Nevada City, allowing the $1.2 million project to proceed after two previous attempts lacked capital.
Under the California Public Utility Commission’s Rule 20A program, utility companies set aside $1 per month charged to customers to help fund a portion of undergrounding projects that reduce fire danger and service interruptions.
Nevada City will borrow from five years of future Rule 20A credits to complete the project. According to a PG&E report, over the last 14 years Grass Valley, Nevada City and Nevada County have averaged $60,493, $26,106 and $466,141, respectively, in annual funds.