The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) will begin burying electrical lines in Pacific Palisades' Alphabet Streets neighborhood in early 2027, the utility confirmed at a Thursday, Oct. 8, community meeting.
Theodore Zeiss, LADWP's Palisades deputy incident commander, outlined the timeline at the Pacific Palisades Community Council (PPCC) online meeting, first reported by the Palisadian-Post. The Alphabet Streets were chosen as the starting zone because of their proximity to the DS29 power station, according to Palisades News.
The commitment follows a written pledge LADWP made in December 2025 to underground power lines throughout the Palisades where possible. PPCC President Allison Polhill said at the Thursday, Oct. 8, meeting that the promise is now becoming real.
"LADWP put in writing in December of 2025 that they were going to underground in the Palisades, and it is starting," Polhill said.
The undergrounding is part of what Zeiss called a "three in one" infrastructure push. The second piece, expanding the distribution station on Sunset Boulevard, is set to begin in late 2026 or early 2027. The third, work along Sunset's eastern corridor past Chautauqua Boulevard, is expected to wrap up by summer or fall 2027. LADWP Interim General Manager Dave Hanson told ABC7 the broader goal is underground power across the Palisades by 2031, as we also reported Oct. 12.
Before construction begins, LADWP needs what Zeiss described as a "significant footprint" of laydown space to store materials and stage heavy equipment. The utility is negotiating agreements with Pacific Palisades Presbyterian Church on Sunset Boulevard, the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) for a lot near the YMCA in Temescal Gateway Park, and Community United Methodist Church of Pacific Palisades.
Not everyone is on board with those plans. Cindy Simon, the PPCC's first alternate for Area 6, opposed using Temescal Gateway Park. James Alexakis, representing the Temescal Canyon Association on the PPCC Land Use Committee, wrote that the association is seeking answers from the MRCA and "may prepare a letter-writing campaign."
May Sung, the PPCC's Area 5 representative, said the laydown agreements benefit property owners because LADWP rents the space. Zeiss acknowledged the community's role, saying LADWP "can't just grab leases and grab laydown space without consulting with the community."
PPCC Vice Chair Reza Akef said the Infrastructure Committee's next priority is ensuring telecommunications lines also go underground.
Zeiss said additional neighborhood meetings for other Palisades areas could begin as early as mid-November, though no specific timeline has been set. Project cost and total mileage have not been disclosed.
The PPCC meets again Thursday, Oct. 15, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. Councilwoman Traci Park is scheduled to present an update on a proposed Disaster Recovery District for Pacific Palisades.
