Pali Neighborhood Undergrounding Estimated to Begin in Alphabet Streets/LADWP Support Center to Open in Early 2026

By Laurel Busby

News & Information Editor

The L.A. Department of Water and Power met with community members on Dec. 11 to discuss undergrounding Pacific Palisades utility lines.

“LADWP remains committed to undergrounding electrical utilities in the Palisades, with the understanding that there may be areas where it is unachievable due to terrain or other technical challenges,” according to LADWP’s post-meeting recap. “Further, LADWP aims for block-level undergrounding, but if some property owners don’t participate or decline to provide the required easements, overhead service may remain for those parcels/streets. The team is developing a timeline for when work will begin and expects that it will be ready for review in Feb. 2026.”

The first neighborhood to undergo undergrounding is likely to be the Alphabet Streets or Load Block 5, although all of the Palisades, including Rustic and Santa Monica Canyons will eventually be scheduled for undergrounding, according to LADWP. Coordination with the community about the Alphabet Streets undergrounding will occur after the Feb. 2026 timeline is completed. Monthly meetings with LADWP and community representatives will be held to “share updates and respond to concerns.”

In addition, the LA Department of Water and Power will be opening a Palisades Support Center in early 2026 at 16925 Marquez Ave., according to LADWP and City Councilmember Traci Park’s office.

The Palisades Inspections and Permitting Support Center is under construction and “will serve as a community hub for technical and logistical questions related to rebuilding efforts,” according to LADWP. “To better support the region and expand services, City staff will relocate from the Topanga Unified Utilities Rebuild Operations Center (UUROC) to this new facility.”

The new facility will house representatives from the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the Bureau of Engineering, and the Los Angeles Fire Department, according to LADWP.

Thus far, undergrounding efforts have included the construction of 1.65 miles of trench and 32 substructures as part of a planned 6.5-mile combined conduit system, which will be the backbone of the expansion and allow for 12 kV distribution mainlines, according to LADWP. Work began in April, but was temporarily paused to employ a new contractor, who is expected to restart work this month.

In addition, LADWP has been pursuing federal and state funding for utility undergrounding, according to LADWP.

To comply with the new systems, residents who are rebuilding should install “combo panels,” which provide overhead and underground service entrances. Additionally, LADWP requests that builders run underground conduit 30 inches below gutter grade to the front of the property line for crews to connect to the undergrounding system at a later date. The conduit termination point should be 3 feet from the side property line. Customers are allowed two 90-degree conduit bends and one 45-degree conduit bend on private property.

A previous Canyon News article about undergrounding can be found here.