Crews began moving overhead utility and powerlines underground on Aug. 18 in Boulder’s Chautauqua neighborhood as part of a coordinated effort by the city, Xcel Energy and telecommunications companies to modernize aging infrastructure and lower wildfire risk. The work also includes installing fiber internet and upgrading water infrastructure, bringing one-lane road closures and visible construction equipment to the area.
It’s the first undergrounding project in Boulder with a large residential impact. It stems from a renewed partnership formed after Boulder ended its bid to create a city-run utility and agreed to drop its legal fight with Xcel, which led to a new franchise agreement and the restart of an undergrounding fund.
City electrical engineer Lex Telischak said the project reflects Boulder’s investment in Chautauqua, calling it a “crown jewel” of the city’s open space and one of its most visited destinations. “I think it’s really tending to our beauty and the facilities we have here in Boulder,” he told Boulder Reporting Lab.
Beyond improving aging infrastructure, the main reason for undergrounding is wildfire prevention. Telischak noted that moving powerlines underground eliminates the risk of vegetation contact, similar to what investigators have alleged was caused by Xcel equipment in the Marshall Fire. The project is also expected to reduce power outages.
The project has two phases. The first, from Ranger Cottage to Boggess Circle, is underway. The second, extending from Boggess Circle to the northeast corner of the property, is still in the planning stages. Construction is expected to wrap up by the end of 2027.
Because undergrounding requires significant excavation, city engineers spent years coordinating with utilities so multiple projects could happen simultaneously. “We’re operating on a ‘disturb once’ mentality,” Telischak said.
Everything on utility poles is going underground. That includes Comcast lines and about 3,400 feet of Xcel’s primary distribution lines in the first phase alone. The communications company ALLO is also installing fiber cables, launching a new fiber network in Boulder. The city is making stormwater drainage improvements and adding underground connections to the streetlight system. Once the work is complete, roads will be repaved.
The city is covering the street and water infrastructure work. Xcel is funding the undergrounding of its main powerlines through a fund that dedicates up to 1% of Xcel’s revenue in the city for undergrounding projects. Comcast and ALLO are paying for their portions of the work. The Colorado Chautauqua Association will cover costs for work on its properties. Residents are responsible for any site-specific work on their properties.
Thanks for this reporting, Por! Could you expand on this topic to cover the pace of power utility undergrounding for the rest of the city? Chautauqua is certainly very high risk, with historic wooden buildings immediately adjacent to wildlands, but undergrounding throughout the western side of town should be important for preventing wildfires during high winds. I’d like to know how well Xcel is doing in matching its commitment to do this work. How big is the fund? What is the plan for implementing more burial of power lines? What are the priority areas?