Circuit Hardening

Strengthening Burbank's Electric Grid in the Tier 2 High Fire Threat District

BWP will be upgrading the electric infrastructure in the Tier 2 High Fire Threat District (Tier 2 HFTD) to improve wildfire safety and strengthen Burbank’s electric grid.

Fully upgrading the electric infrastructure in Burbank’s Tier 2 HFTD to help mitigate wildfires is a big initiative. BWP will be performing a series of projects to upgrade Burbank’s infrastructure one area at a time. BWP will focus on areas that are closest to the hillside areas that pose accessibility challenges to BWP crews.

These upgrades will help ensure that Burbank will continue to have reliable, high-quality electric service for years to come.

BWP is Upgrading Burbank’s Electric Infrastructure to Maintain Reliability and Help Mitigate Wildfires

Help Meet the City’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) Goals - BWP is and has been implementing a range of activities to mitigate the threat of power-line ignited wildfires. The plan to install covered conductor - power lines with a protective outer coating - in these high-risk areas will improve reliability and lower the chance of a fire starting if these power lines come into contact with trees or other foreign objects. These activities are outlined in our Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP). Approximately 25 miles of Burbank's distribution lines are in the Tier 2 HFTD, and approximately 44% of those BWP-owned electrical lines are currently overhead wire. Overhead wire and related components are the focus of our Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP) as they represent a potential source of wildfire ignitions. BWP continually evaluates practical and cost-effective improvements to its design standards, physical assets, inspection and maintenance programs, operations, and training, to safely provide reliable, affordable, and sustainable utility services for our community.

Improving Reliability - The overhead lines and facilities are being built to 12kV standards to prepare this area for a future 4kV to 12kV conversion. This rebuild will improve reliability for Burbank residents and allow for more power to be delivered for their electricity needs.

Project Phases

Below is a summary of the project phases that customers can expect for an upgrade.

Phase 1 — Engineering

BWP staff visits the project area identified for circuit hardening. The BWP team will verify that the infrastructure information is correct and note any relevant site conditions for the initiative. If the team needs access to your yard, you will be notified in advance.

Phase 2 — Construction Preparation

In this phase, BWP will prep, and dig holes for new wood and composite poles as needed. BWP may install additional overhead equipment or move existing overhead lines around to prepare for the installation of new lines.

Phase 3 — Construction and Pole Set

In this phase, BWP will replace existing bare primary lines with new covered conductor. BWP will install new wood or composite poles as needed for the upgrade. A crane may be set up to place the utility poles onto their planned locations. For safety purposes, parts of the street may need to be closed or partially blocked while work is performed. Once the poles are set and/or prepped, the crews will work on transferring overhead lines and other equipment from the old pole to the new pole. 

Removal of Old Poles and Fixtures

BWP staff will remove as much of the old power equipment as possible once the upgrade is complete. Some short utility poles may be left behind. BWP shares ownership in many of its poles with telecommunication companies, such as AT&T. These poles belong to the telecommunication companies and will be removed by the telecommunication companies at a later date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Tier 2 HFTD refers to areas in Burbank that are at an elevated risk for wildfires, leading to the need for enhanced safety measures and infrastructure improvements. See the Wildfire Mitigation Plan for the Tier 2 HFTD boundary map.

BWP is upgrading the electric grid in Burbank’s Tier 2 HFTD to improve wildfire safety and strengthen Burbank’s electric grid. These upgrades will help us continue to provide reliable, high-quality electric service for years to come.
BWP will install covered conductor, which are power lines with a protective outer coating. The covered conductor helps reduce the likelihood of fires if power lines come into contact with trees or other objects.
Covered conductor is a type of power line with a protective coating that helps mitigate sparks and fires, improving both safety and reliability in high-risk areas.

BWP is and has been implementing a range of activities to mitigate the threat of power-line ignited wildfires. These activities are outlined in our Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP).

This project aligns with the WMP by addressing overhead electrical lines—a potential source of wildfire ignition—and implementing improvements in infrastructure.

Yes. As part of this project, the overhead lines and facilities are being built to 12kV standards to prepare this area for a future 4kV to 12kV conversion. This project will make it easier to convert this area to 12kV in the future which will help improve service reliability and allow more power to be delivered for residents and businesses to help meet their electricity needs.
Residents can expect three main phases: engineering assessments, construction preparation, and construction work, which may include prepping and installing new wood or composite utility poles.
BWP staff will remove as much of the old power equipment as possible once upgrades are completed. BWP shares ownership in many of its poles with telecommunication companies, such as AT&T. These poles belong to the telecommunication companies and will be removed by the telecommunication companies at a later date.
BWP staff will do our best to minimize disruption to your daily activities. In some instances, there may be temporary street closures or partial blockages for safety reasons while work is performed. If this is needed, BWP will notify residents. Residents will also be notified in advance if crews need access to private property.
If you have questions, please contact BWP Project Manager, Allen Rios, by email at alrios@burbankca.gov or by phone at (818) 238-3689.