The Riverside Transmission Reliability Project (RTRP) is a joint project between Southern California Edison (SCE) and Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) to build a new 230,000-volt (230 kV) electric transmission line, providing the City of Riverside with a second connection to the California electric grid to meet growing energy demands and increase reliability. The project spans parts of Riverside, as well as the cities of Norco and Jurupa Valley, and mixes overhead and underground construction for the transmission lines.

The RTRP will construct above-ground transmission lines in a wind-prone and fire-prone area along Norco’s portion of the Santa Ana River. Since 2017, the City of Norco has communicated its concerns about the RTRP and has publicly opposed the construction of any above-ground transmission lines in and around the Santa Ana River, as well as in adjacent neighborhoods outside of Norco. The RTRP was proposed to provide Riverside with additional power capacity to serve existing and projected electrical demand, however the approved above-ground transmission lines present significant hazards, specifically wildfire hazards, to surrounding communities. Norco has experienced a dramatic increase in the risk of catastrophic wildfires within its city limits since the original environmental impact study was conducted. This risk will be increased exponentially by the construction of an overhead, high-voltage transmission line that will pass through open space loaded with flammable vegetation in the very region that gave the notorious Santa Ana Winds their name.

The City of Norco continues to strongly advocate for the full undergrounding of the RTRP to protect public safety and decrease wildfire risks to Norco and surrounding communities. Ultimately, the Riverside City Council, Southern California Edison, and the California Public Utilities Commission each has the authority to modify the project design to underground the transmission lines.