Under-grounding of Utilities

The Riviera Association has made a commitment to facilitate the under-grounding of utilities on the Riviera. Montecito attempted to do this several years ago for the entire community and it failed. Our approach is to encourage neighbors to form small groups to underground in their areas. This effort has already begun with 4 separate projects. Utilities are being undergrounded by approximately 6 homes on Mission Ridge just north of the El Encanto. There are 17 homes involved in undergrounding on Ferrelo Road. Another effort on Arbolado involves 15 homes. And another on Roble Lane involves 17 homes. Keep in mind the City has now designated someone to help coordinate the process including the determination of how the costs should be allocated among homeowner. Also, there are various options to pay for the undergrounding, including spreading the cost over 30 years. Please contact Jules Bender, 805-882-2107, if you would like to discuss further.

The link below will direct you to the City's Engineering Division Web Page where information pertinent to the Utility Undergrounding Process in Santa Barbara can be found. http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/Government/Departments/PW/Engineering_Division.htm

Update on the transformer on La Paterna:

On Jan. 16, 2008 Southern California Edison arrived unannounced on Paterna Road to do an electrical improvement on their distribution system. The electrical service in this neighborhood was conceived to be underground and constructed that way in 1914. SCE's "improvement" was to include an aboveground transformer placed between the sidewalk and the roadway. These eyesores are now the standard practice and are found on or next to the sidewalk throughout the city. Now, nearly five months later, and with the aid of The Riviera Association, the City Council, the Public Works Department and cash to SCE the transformer is underground. Better than it could have been. Not as good as it should be.

- Chuck Croninger