Your Money at Work | Truckee Donner Public Utility District

Each year, Truckee Donner Public Utility District tackles capital and maintenance projects on both its electric and water systems that continue to enhance its ability to serve the community reliably and safely. TDPUD does long-term, strategic planning to lay out the best way to invest rates back into utility infrastructure, from maintenance projects to piloting and implementing new technologies.

Here’s a look at some of the projects that TDPUD will be working on in 2026.

2026 Electric Utility Projects

These electric utility projects will benefit our community by mitigating wildfire, increasing community safety and improving TDPUD’s system reliability.

Gridware Installation

In March, Truckee Donner PUD will begin installing a new technology to a section of its power poles, which will assist in improving the reliability and safety of the electric system.

Line sensors combine various sensing technologies that provide continuous, real-time monitoring of physical, electrical, structural and environmental conditions surrounding electric equipment, even during outages. In 2026, TDPUD will be installing Gridscope line sensors in the neighborhoods of Prosser Lakeview, Prosser Lake Heights, Coachland/Village Camp, West End Donner Lake, South Shore Donner Lake and in a portion of Sierra Meadows.

This technology will help TDPUD both with quicker power restoration during outages and with wildfire hazard awareness.

During a power outage, linemen need to patrol the power lines to search for the cause of the outage before they can begin work to fix the issue and restore power. This equipment will help our line crews identify outage causes more quickly and restore power faster.

Real-time monitoring of our power lines and electric infrastructure will also help keep our community safer from wildfire ignitions. If a tree branch was to make contact with a power line, TDPUD would receive an alert, and crews could be dispatched to evaluate the issue and potentially prevent damage before it occurs.

Having this insight and ability to detect issues earlier will make our electric system both safer and more reliable. To learn more about line sensing technology and how it will benefit our community, see the below FAQ.

TDPUD electric crew working on a pole replacement in Sierra Meadows in May 2025

Gridscope FAQ

On March 17, Truckee Donner PUD will begin installing a new technology to a section of its power poles, which will assist in improving the reliability and safety of the electric system.

What are line sensors?

Line sensors combine technologies that provide continuous, real-time monitoring of physical, electrical, structural, and environmental conditions surrounding overhead electric equipment, even during outages.

How do line sensors work?

The line sensors that TDPUD is installing, called Gridscope, use real-time monitoring and analytics to equip line crews with accurate information identifying the exact type, location, and severity of hazards before they are dispatched.

These devices run on solar power with batteries, so they are always on even during an outage, and are built to withstand the elements. They can relay data even in remote areas by using a combination of device-to-device, cellular, and satellite communications.

This equipment identifies faults and hazards through mechanical, environmental, optical, and electromagnetic sensors that monitor and evaluate 14 different data points.

Why is this equipment being installed?

This technology will help TDPUD both with quicker power restoration during outages and with wildfire hazard awareness.

Having this insight and ability to detect issues earlier will make our electric system both safer and more reliable, which has great benefit for our community

When will the installation work be done?

Installation will begin on Tuesday, March 17, and we anticipate being finished with the work in about a week. This timeline is subject to change as needed.

Where are line sensors being installed?

To start, these line sensors are being installed in the neighborhoods of Prosser Lakeview, Prosser Lake Heights, Coachland/Village Camp, West End Donner Lake, South Shore Donner Lake and in a portion of Sierra Meadows. If we see success with this initial pilot program, we may opt to install more line sensors across TDPUD electric distribution system.

How many line sensors are being installed?

We will be installing 376 line sensors and 8 weather stations on 820 poles during this pilot program.

Why is it being installed in these areas?

We have determined that these are beneficial areas to install line sensors due to the high wildfire danger ratings, the frequency of outages, and the configuration of the power lines in these neighborhoods.

Will TDPUD be turning off my power during the installation?

No, there will be no power interruptions during this project. It takes an average of five minutes to install each line sensor.

Will traffic be impeded in these areas during installation?

There will be brief times of one-lane traffic around the immediate area of this work. Please drive with caution, respect all signage in and around work zones, and help keep our crews safe.

How do line sensors gather data?

Gridscope line sensors gather data via a monitoring array that incorporates 14 different sensors:

Mechanical sensors: measuring vibration, acceleration, tilt, and acoustics

Environmental sensors: measuring temperature, pressure, humidity, and volatile organic compounds

Optical sensors: infrared sensors, visible light sensors, and cameras

Electromagnetic sensors: measuring E-field, H-field, and voltage gradient

Gridscope sensor data is proprietary to TDPUD and is only used to monitor, maintain, and restore the electric distribution system.

What company supplies these line sensors?

Gridscope line sensors are supplied by Gridware, who are working with dozens of electric utilities in California and the Western U.S. To learn more about Gridware, visit their website: www.gridware.io

Overhead Infrastructure Hardening Project

TDPUD crews will be continuing the system hardening work they began in a pilot program last fall. This work will include replacing wood power poles and traditional powerlines with metal poles, composite fiberglass crossarms and insulated powerlines. This work will occur on a section of Northwoods between Fjord Rd and Davos Dr. In April, TDPUD line crews will be working intermittently in the area. Beginning May 4, TDPUD has contracted VIP Powerline Corp. to join TDPUD crews to support and accelerate this important work. This work will continue through early summer.

Vegetation Management

TDPUD’s contracted tree crews will be conducting routine tree trimming along the southern section of Northwoods Blvd, between Davos Dr. and the intersection of Northwoods and Northwoods. This work is expected to continue through the summer. This work will be done by P31 Enterprises. This proactive effort helps prepare the area for upcoming system hardening improvements, which will enhance safety and reliability for the community.

A map of the area of Northwoods Blvd that will be affected by system hardening work during summer 2026

Stay tuned for more information on 2026 electric utility projects.

2026 Water Utility Projects

This year, the water department will be taking on six major projects, continuing progress on our 10-year capital investment plan.

Pipeline Replacements

TDPUD has a multi-year water pipeline replacement plan, which identifies areas of the system most in need of replacement due to age, and prioritizes this work over time to make it more manageable and cost-efficient. This year, TDPUD will be replacing approximately 2,600 feet of water main, nearly 1,700 feet of laterals, hydrants and all asphalt restoration in Tahoe Donner at the Ski Bowl Condominiums and at Donner Pass Road at Fire Station 92.

Hirschdale Pipeline

TDPUD operates two separate water systems in the Truckee area—the Hirschdale System and the Truckee Main System. TDPUD has identified the need to construct a pipeline to connect the two systems, to improve efficiency, reduce operating costs and so customers on the Hirschdale System can still be served when that system’s only well needs to be taken out of service for maintenance work.

Martiswoods Hydropneumatic Pump Station

This neighborhood is currently served by TDPUD’s only raised-elevation tank, and the existing equipment has reached end of life. This capital investment will replace the existing system with a modern and efficient hydropneumatic pump station and controls ensuring long-term service reliability and safety.

Pipeline Rehabilitation

TDPUD has identified some areas of pipeline that are in need of repair, but due to their location or ability to access, rehabilitation is more cost-effective than replacement. This year, TDPUD has four projects that are either under a state highway or in environmentally sensitive areas and will be rehabilitating water mains in Tahoe Donner that cross under Trout Creek (near Baden Road and near Zermatt Drive) and cross under Alder Creek (near Ski Bowl Condominiums). TDPUD will also be rehabilitating a water main that crosses under State Route 89 (near Rainbow Drive).

Water Storage Tank Rehabilitation

Similar to TDPUD pipeline projects, when it comes to large water storage tanks, preventative maintenance pays off in the long run as replacement can be very expensive. As a result, TDPUD conducts comprehensive maintenance and periodically conducts re-evaluations of aging water tanks to determine if rehabilitation is a more cost-effective solution than replacement. This year, TDPUD is inspecting and planning to rehabilitate
The Strand tank in Glenshire and the Donner Trails water storage tank No. 2.

SCADA Reliability Improvement Project

The multi-year Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) Reliability Improvement Project connects the TDPUD’s major electric and water facilities to the TDPUD’s headquarters by installing fiber and other high-speed communications equipment. To date, the TDPUD has deployed over 100 miles of fiber throughout the greater Truckee community, with approximately 60 miles planned over the next few years. The 2026 SCADA Reliability Improvement Project will go along Glenshire Drive.

It is important to note that although TDPUD has deployed this fiber for SCADA, this same fiber is used by TDPUD’s telecommunications partner Plumas Sierra Telecom (PST) to offer high-speed, fiber-based broadband services in Truckee.

TDPUD water crew working on a valve flushing project in Olympic Heights in 2025

2025 Projects

2025 Water Utility Projects

Pipeline Replacements

TDPUD replaced aging water pipeline in Sierra Meadows and Tahoe Donner this summer. Pipeline replacement projects are one of the many ways TDPUD ensures that its system can reliably deliver high-quality water to its customers. Every year, TDPUD identifies which areas of the system to prioritize for replacement, based on the age of the pipeline and the likelihood of leaks.

System Maintenance and Rehabilitation

TDPUD is constantly working on maintaining its water system, from cleaning and painting tanks to rehabilitating infrastructure, tanks and wells. This year, a lot of focus was on clay valve maintenance across the system, along with a flushing project in Olympic Heights to improve water quality in that zone. Valves control the flow of water, allowing TDPUD to isolate sections of the system and change water direction. It’s important to service this vital piece of equipment, because if they fail then TDPUD can’t boost water through its system, which is especially crucial in a system that pumps its water from deep underground and then moves it to neighborhoods at higher elevations.

TDPUD water crew working on a valve flushing project in Olympic Heights in 2025

Leak Detection and Master Meter Installation

In preparation for new state water use regulations, TDPUD has been focused on identifying water loss and repairing leaks in its distribution system. TDPUD has different ways it detects leaks, including using satellite technology to locate pipeline leaks underground, installing temporary antennas on hydrants to monitor water flow data, and installing master meters to more accurately pinpoint where water loss is occurring. Our water team can then use the data from these meters, coupled with business intelligence software, to better target leaks.

Increased Fire Flow in Donner Lake

TDPUD added a new pump station on the south side of Donner Lake, at the existing Red Mountain tank. This project will increase service reliability and fire flow in a high wildfire risk area. Though urban water systems like TDPUD’s were never meant to sustain the amount of water needed for fighting wildfires, increasing the amount of water we can bring through the system is a small part TDPUD can play in helping Truckee be wildfire ready.

2025 Electric Utility Projects

Wildfire Mitigation and System Hardening

Many of TDPUD’s electric system maintenance and upgrades revolve around mitigating the risk of electric infrastructure sparking a wildfire. Here are some of the service reliability and safety projects TDPUD took on this year:

Pole Replacements: TDPUD replaces wooden poles when their condition makes them susceptible to damage or failure.

Flat Topping/Horizontal Construction: Some spans of power lines are attached to power poles in a vertical configuration, but bad weather or snow unloading can make the lines to slap together and cause a power outage. TDPUD reconfigures the lines to attach to power poles horizontally, so there is less chance that they come in contact.

Idle Line Removal: TDPUD will be removing power poles and lines of the system that are no longer in use, for system safety and to not have to maintain vegetation requirements on this equipment anymore.

Vegetation Management: TDPUD continues to invest heavily in vegetation management, to increase the reliability and safety of its electric system.

Engineering Work: TDPUD’s electric engineering team is working on designing more system hardening work, by analyzing risk and working with peer utilities to determine how these upgrades should be prioritized throughout the system.
Preemptive Power Shutoff & New Technologies: This summer, TDPUD’s board directed staff to develop preemptive power shutoff protocols for extreme situations such as catastrophic wildfire danger. To support this goal, TDPUD will be using two new technologies to help determine wildfire risk for our system:

Cloudfire specializes in electric utility weather and wildfire risk modeling.
Gridware supplies advanced overhead electric grid monitoring and notifications.

TDPUD electric crew working on a pole replacement in Sierra Meadows in May 2025

Northwoods Covered Conductor Pilot Project

TDPUD will be installing new wildfire mitigation equipment in an area of Northwoods Boulevard in Tahoe Donner, to test and explore whether this equipment could be useful to its electric operations. The test program will include installation of ductile iron power poles, crossarms made of a composite of fiberglass and plastic, and covered conductor wire, which encapsulates power lines in an insulating material to protect them from contact with tree branches or other flammable things. TDPUD will weigh the effectiveness of the equipment against the cost, time and effort it takes to install, to determine whether it will be installed in other areas of the system.

Martis Valley Substation Rebuild

After significant planning and engineering work, the Martis Valley Substation modernization project began its construction phase this summer. This is one of the four substations that connect TDPUD’s distribution system to transmission lines, and the only one that has not undergone a modernization and rebuild project since its initial construction. Martis Valley Substation, built in 1981 is nearing the end of its service life. It serves critical areas of the TDPUD system and requires a rebuild and upgrade to ensure safe and reliable operation into the future.

TDPUD engineering staff began this project in 2021, working with consultants to determine the full scope of work that should be accomplished. The proposed scope ensures improved reliability, operability and improved maintainability of the substation for the next 40 years.

Because of the size of the project, it has been split into two parts to be completed over two constructions seasons. The first phase is planned for 2025 and focuses on the civil infrastructure work in the existing substation yard. This includes grading, installation of conduits, vaults and boxes, ground grid improvements, and concrete foundation work. The remaining work is expected to be completed in 2026.

Vegetation management project