Kittitas wildfire prevention & grid strengthening projects
PSE is making investments in Kittitas County to strengthen the electric grid, reduce wildfire risk and improve year round reliability for our customers. Over the next several years, we’re building projects to support local infrastructure and keep energy flowing safely.
Pictured: Undergrounding project in Ronald, 2025. Photo: Potelco
What we’re doing in Kittitas County
Between 2025 and 2028, we will complete a series of wildfire prevention and resiliency projects throughout Kittitas County. In many cases, construction will take place over several years in phases:
- Install new underground power lines to replace overhead wires in a portion of our system
- Replace some aging overhead equipment
- Install “tree wire” (specially coated overhead wire that helps prevent sparks) in some areas
We regularly inspect and replace poles, wires and other equipment and trim trees that have grown too close to power lines. In addition, the majority of circuits in Kittitas County are enabled with Enhanced Powerline Settings (EPS) to keep our customers and communities safe.
What is resiliency?
A more resilient grid is an electric system that can better withstand and quickly recover from stressful events like storms or wildfire conditions. It means:
- Fewer outages
- Faster restoration
- Reduced wildfire risk
- Long-term reliability
Kittitas projects in 2026
In 2026, we plan to start construction on these undergrounding projects:
- Highway 903 in Ronald. About 2.5 miles of undergrounding from Patrick Mine Rd to Wadsworth Loop Rd. (click for map)
- Highway 903 in Roslyn. About 0.83 miles of undergrounding from SR 903 and N 8th St to Fan House Rd. (click for map)
- Denmark Road in Ellensburg. About 0.36 miles of undergrounding from 2690 Denmark Rd to west of 2420 Denmark Rd. (click for map)
- Cooke Canyon Road in Ellensburg. About 3.6 miles of undergrounding from 5711 Cooke Canyon Rd to 9100 Cooke Canyon Rd. (click for map)
- Thorp Prairie Rd in Cle Elum. About 1.84 miles of undergrounding south of the Kittitas Irrigation Canal to North of 6931 Thorp Prairie Rd. (click for map)
- Woods and Steele Road in Cle Elum. About 0.9 miles from North of Woods and Steele Rd and Chandler Rd Intersection to 1700 Woods and Steele Rd. (click for map)
Construction schedules could change, based on the progress of work and weather conditions. We will keep you updated.
Map of projects along Highway 903 in 2025-2026.
What to expect during construction
You may notice construction activity in and around your neighborhood or along travel routes such as I-90, Highway 97 and Highway 903. Here’s what you can expect:
- Construction may cause traffic delays or detours. Please follow the detour routes and allow a little extra time to get to your destination.
- In some cases, we may need to schedule planned outages and will inform impacted customers in advance.
- To install utilities underground, crews will need to dig in the street or other areas. After the work is completed, we will restore areas to their pre‑existing conditions.
- Some wires and poles will remain. Some projects will place distribution power lines underground and remove the existing overhead distribution wires. We will remove as many poles as possible. However, some poles also carry other types of overhead lines such as transmission or communications lines. These lines and poles will remain after we install the new distribution lines underground.
- Construction schedules could change, based on the progress of work and weather conditions. We will keep you updated.
- We aim to minimize construction impacts as much as possible. Thank you for your patience!
Proactive approach
Much of Kittitas County experiences high summer temperatures, low humidity, and strong winds — conditions that contribute to wildfire risk. As these risks grow across the western United States, PSE is taking proactive steps to keep communities safe.
- Use best practices in construction and operations to reduce fire risk
- Strengthen and modernize infrastructure
- Reduce outages caused by tree branches or vegetation
- Prioritize safety for employees, contractors and the community
Benefits for customers
Stronger, more reliable service
Trees and other vegetation that grow too close to power lines can cause power outages. Moving portions of the electric system underground and installing tree wire significantly reduces these tree-related outages – and keeps the lights on for our customers.
Lower risk of wildfires
When we move power lines underground, use sturdier overhead wires (tree wire), and trim trees, then we can reduce the risk of potential hazards, such as a tree branch touching a line, and prevent sparks.
Fewer outages during severe weather
A strengthened grid performs better during storms and wildfire conditions.
Long term investment in your community
This work will support safety, reliability, and economic resilience now and in the future for Kittitas County.
Contact us
If you have questions about these Kittitas wildfire prevention and grid strengthening projects, please contact:
1-888-404-8773
Major.Projects@pse.com