Frequently Asked Questions

The City will prioritize the individual projects using a methodology approved by the City Council. For the undergrounding schedule, please visit this site's Project Updates page.

Measure Q money will pay for the undergrounding of overhead utilities within the City’s right-of-way.  The homeowners will pay for the cost of converting and connecting the overhead utilities from the property line to the service connection at the house i.e., laterals.

The cost varies depending on the site condition e.g., on how far the lines need to run and any obstacles or surface improvements.

The City will work with the homeowners to provide resources for securing financing. Guidelines for qualification will be established.

Staff will prioritize the projects using the prioritization process recommended by the Utility Undergrounding Advisory Committee and approved by the City Council.

Yes.  However, since undergrounding work is under the purview of the City, it cannot be delegated. Timing is also subject to SDG&E’s capacity.  Municipal services for which the City is responsible will not be delegated to others without due process. Therefore, any independent work may not be compensated with public funds such as Measure Q money.

The City will not reimburse those properties that have previously undergrounded at their own expense.   The City will not reimburse those homeowners who have expended funds currently and are in the process to underground.  The City will only take over the financial responsibility for work within the City’s right-of-way going forward as scheduled by the City. Privately-initiated and led efforts within the City’s right-of -way do not qualify for compensation as the work falls within the City’s purview and may not be delegated.  Following are some of the reasons for this:

• The work was not completed in compliance with the contracting and labor laws that City’s projects funded with public funds are subject to.
• It is not feasible to go back and separate and identify costs that could potentially be eligible or to verify the work was let for bid and awarded properly.
• It is unknown how to define the qualified owner such as current owner, previous owner, or even future one.
• The homeowners have already benefited from the investment and received contributions (i.e., resources) from the City during the work.
• There is no way of knowing if the costs spent were well spent and the City would get a good value.

Typically, once a district is created, undergrounding and pole removal are expected within three to five years, subject to City Council approval and Measure Q fund availability.

The City is evaluating all of its projects in an effort to coordinate with the undergrounding projects to potentially consolidate the work and save money and minimize neighborhood disruption in the process.  However, these other City projects will not slow any approved undergrounding project except in an emergency case where public safety and well-being always takes precedence.

The City has established an email address to receive, distribute, and respond to inquiries. The address is UP@delmar.ca.us. Also, when specific neighborhoods have been identified for undergrounding, a ‘team captain’ from the neighborhood will be identified to act as a point of contact and to distribute information. For further questions, please visit the Utility Undergrounding FAQs (PDF).