$5.7 million project to reduce Palm Springs power outages

Southern California Edison announced Tuesday it's launching a $5.7 million project to reduce power outages in downtown and uptown Palm Springs.

Crews will install 14 new underground vaults, 3 miles of underground cable and replace other underground equipment on Indian Canyon Drive between Ramon Road and 500 feet north of Vista Chino.

"We're not saying there won't be power outages anymore, but our goal is to increase reliability," Edison spokesman David Song said. "What we're actually doing with this specific project in Palm Springs is we're adding an entirely new circuit to our grid ... We're not just replacing anything old."

The project is to accommodate the area's growing population and relieve stress on utility equipment.

There have been outages in downtown Palm Springs in the past, in part because new businesses move in and use equipment that exceeds the capabilities of Edison equipment, said company spokeswoman Nina McCullough.

Barry Spencer lives in the Movie Colony neighborhood, which will benefit from work.

His home — which is about 70 years old — has had several outages over the past year for various reasons.

Restoration took "between a few minutes and a couple days," he said. "Whatever they do to improve the grid, I'm all in favor of."

Under the first phase, which is scheduled to last through November, workers will dig trenches in the right lane of Indian Canyon.

Planned power outages may occur during the second phase, which will last about two months beginning in January.

Work is scheduled to take place during weekdays and McCullough estimated crews will cover 200-foot stretches for two days at a time.

Edison is spending billions of dollars on such projects across Southern California, including in Santa Ana and Inglewood.