2026 Overhead System Hardening Project: Ponderosa/Sierra Meadows Details
The work being done in Ponderosa Palisades/Sierra Meadows this summer is part of our Overhead System Hardening project. This is a major capital investment in improving the service reliability and safety of our electric system, which will help protect our community against wildfire and make our equipment more resilient to power outages. The work being done includes replacing wood power poles and traditional power lines with metal poles, composite fiberglass crossarms and covered conductor.
We understand that, more so than in other neighborhoods, this has been a lengthy and impactful project, and we want to provide some context for why this project is occurring and why it has required multiple power outages for some customers, as well as information on what to expect in the final weeks of the project.
Below you can find an FAQ about the project, as well as anticipated dates and maps for the remainder of the outages needed for this project.
What work is being done in Ponderosa Palisades/Sierra Meadows?
In August and September, TDPUD is continuing its 2026 Overhead System Hardening Project in Ponderosa Palisades and Sierra Meadows, mostly along Ponderosa Drive, Silver Fir Drive and Aspenwood Rd. The work being done includes replacing wood power poles and traditional power lines with metal poles, composite fiberglass crossarms and covered conductor.
Why are we doing this project? What are the benefits to customers?
TDPUD has taken on this overhead hardening project to help protect our community against wildfire and improve our electric service reliability and safety. This neighborhood was identified as a high priority area for these upgrades.
Why does this project require so many power outages?
Part of this has to do with the work being done, and part of it has to do with the location.
The work being done for the Overhead System Hardening Project often comes with power outages, as the power lines need to be de-energized when power poles and wires are replaced. And we attempt to condense this work where possible, to cut down on the number of outages necessary.
However, the work being done in Ponderosa Palisades has required more customer power outages than in other neighborhoods that are getting the same upgrades, because of the configuration of our power system in this area.
In the area of Ponderosa Palisades that is being worked on, our mainline system is essentially a “dead end.” The power line travels up Ponderosa Dr., turns on to Silver Fir Dr., and then terminates on Aspenwood Rd., and the flow of electricity follows that route. Because Liberty Utilities’ territory begins after Silver Fir Dr., there is no way for us to feed electricity into this neighborhood from a different direction. When this work is done in other neighborhoods, like Tahoe Donner, we can isolate the outage to far fewer customers, because we have the ability to energize customers from a different direction. Without this ability, all customers downstream of the work must be de-energized.
Why can’t you just tell me all of the days when my power will be out for the duration of the project?
If you are signed up for outage alerts in your Smarthub account, you will receive an email and/or text usually 4 days in advance of the outage. This is normally appropriate notice for planned outages, but we understand that given the multiple outages that the customers at the end of the powerline have had to endure, that that can feel insufficient. Below, we have attempted to outline the power outages that can be expected in the final weeks of the project, and describe the areas which will be affected for each.
It is important to note that this schedule is subject to change. This is a large project involving coordination with contractors across many phases of work. Because of the complexity of the project and the multiple crews involved, there are many moving parts to manage and planned work may change with little notice. We will always attempt to alert customers to planned outages with as much notice as possible, but at times changes may be made that don't allow for much advanced notice.
How do I get notifications for these planned outages?
Additionally, in your Smarthub account, you can view the full list of planned outages upcoming for your address by going to the Contact Us menu and clicking on the “Track Issue Status” page. They do not appear in your account until they are confirmed and programmed into our system, but that usually occurs 1-2 weeks in advance of the outage. This is a resource you can use to get more advance notice of these outages than the email/text push.
Remaining Planned Outage Schedule & Affected Customers (subject to change):
It is important to note that this schedule is subject to change. This is a large project involving coordination with contractors across many phases of work. Because of the complexity of the project and the multiple crews involved, there are many moving parts to manage, and planned work may change with little notice. We will always attempt to alert customers to planned outages with as much notice as possible, but at times changes may be made that don't allow for much advanced notice.
Tuesday, Sept. 8: 8am-5pm, large area on the center/east side of Sierra Meadows, with a perimeter that consists of Jeffrey Pine Rd., Torrey Pine Rd., Indian Pine Rd., Bishop Pine Rd., Strawberry Rd. and Red Fir Rd.
Wednesday, Sept. 9: 8am-5pm, beginning at the intersection of Silver Fir Dr. and Aspenwood Rd., affecting all customers along Aspenwood Rd., Rainbow Ct., and parts of Blueberry Rd.
Monday, Sept. 14: 8am-5pm, starting at the intersection of Aspenwood Rd. and Blueberry Rd., and encompassing a handful of customers in that area.
Thursday, Sept. 17: 8am-5pm, beginning at the intersection of Silver Fir Dr. and Snowflower Ct., affecting all houses to the west of this point.
Tuesday, Sept 15 and Monday, Sept. 21: 8am-5pm, This was initially supposed to be one outage, but a lot of work needs to be accomplished so it is being split into two days of work. The area affected is from the intersection of Ponderosa Dr. and Silver Fir Dr., to just downhill of the intersection of Ponderosa Dr. and Tamarack Way. Most customers in this area will only lose power for one of these days, though it is unclear as of now which day will affect which customers. Customers towards the ends of this section of work will likely lose power both days.
