STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

Southern California Edison's
Ivanpah-Control Project

Application A.19-07-015, filed July 17, 2019

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Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the environmental review of Southern California Edison's (SCE's) Ivanpah-Control Project (I-C Project). The project is located in incorporated and unincorporated portions of Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino, Counties, California; a map is provided here. SCE submitted a Permit to Construct (PTC) application for the Project to the CPUC on July 17, 2019 (Application A.19-07-015), and submitted an Amended Application (51 MB) on April 13, 2020. Between 2020 and 2022, SCE was completing the required cultural resource surveys and preparing cultural resource reports. If approved by the CPUC, the project is anticipated to begin construction in early 2026. The estimated project completion date is 2029.

The Proposed Project will be reviewed under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The CPUC will prepare an Environmental Impact Report as the CEQA lead agency. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be preparing a separate environmental document as the NEPA lead agency.

This website provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA environmental review process. An overview of the proposed Project is provided below.

For additional information on the CPUC proceeding, contact the Public Advisor's Office.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT

According to SCE, the Project is needed in order to meet the transmission line safety and reliability requirements defined by the CPUC and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation. The Project would involve the demolition and replacement of some or all of SCE's existing 115 kV transmission lines between the Ivanpah and Control Substations.

SCE proposes to remediate discrepancies along 262 miles of existing 115 kV subtransmission circuits in five segments. Detail of SCE's proposal is provided in Amended PEA Chapters 1 through 3 (15 MB). The proposal includes:

  • Full removal and rebuild of Segment 1: Control Substation (Bishop) to Inyokern Substation (8 MB)

  • Full removal and rebuild of Segment 2: Inyokern Substation to Kramer Substation

  • Reconductor and replace certain structures on Segment 3N: Kramer Substation to Coolwater Substation (Daggett), northern route

  • Reconductor and replace certain structures on Segment 3S: Kramer Substation to Tortilla Substation (Barstow) to Coolwater Substation (Daggett), southern route

  • Replace certain structures and derate the transmission line on Segment 4: Coolwater Substation to Ivanpah Substation (7 MB)

Along distribution circuits, SCE would remove existing distribution conductor and appurtenances and install new distribution conductor and appurtenances on replacement structures.

SCE would install new optical groundwire or fiber optic cable to allow telecommunications and system protection, on existing and replacement structures and within and outside of existing substations. At substations, SCE would disconnect the existing conductor and connect the new conductor, connect the telecommunications, and install new cables between existing breakers, relay and protection racks.

ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW

Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA) and Application

SCE filed an application and PEA for the I-C Project on July 17, 2019. On April 13, 2020, SCE filed an Amended Application (51 MB) and PEA.

The CPUC conducted a completeness/deficiency review of the April 2020 amended application and PEA in May 2020. This review resulted in the definition of PEA deficiency items that were detailed in a May 4, 2020 letter to SCE. In May of 2023, after completion of the required surveys and reports related to cultural resources, the SCE application was deemed complete.

Project Scoping

The CEQA public scoping process occurred between September 1, 2020 and September 30, 2020. The Scoping Report (dated 12/2/20) describes the process of scoping, summarizes all comments received, and has the following appendices:

Appendix A: EIR Notices
Appendix B: Scoping Meeting Comments
Appendix C: Scoping Comment Letters (13 MB)

Preparation of the Draft EIR

The environmental review process for the I-C Project is underway, and the Draft EIR is being prepared. The Draft EIR is expected to be published in mid-2024.

COMMENTS & QUESTIONS

If you have comments, complaints, or questions regarding the Project, please contact us using the CPUC's I-C Project email or leave a message on the Project voicemail, as follows:

Project e-mail: Ivanpah-Control@aspeneg.com
Project voicemail: 800-535-2572

The CPUC's Project Manager is:
John Forsythe, CPUC Project Manager
California Public Utilities Commission
c/o Aspen Environmental Group
235 Montgomery Street, Suite 640
San Francisco, CA 94104-2920

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