Photo via Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Facebook page

Fresno City Councilmembers Miguel Arias and Mike Karbassi announced Monday the start of talks with Pacific Gas & Electric Co. to expedite the electrification of new construction in Fresno.

The Business Journal was first to report concerns from the homebuilding industry that PG&E would take up to 150 days to connect new subdivisions to gas and electricity service. In response, city officials proposed a feasibility study for options including establishing a municipal power district.

An item on last week’s Council agenda to hire a consultant was tabled until December.

Now Arias and Karbassi said talks are underway with PG&E Government Relations Vice President Christopher Patterson on a possible 60-day electrification effort to expedite the process.

“Our current situation in getting homes and buildings electrified within the City of Fresno is at a critical moment. Last week’s lengthy debate about a hypothetical, multi-billion-dollar government takeover of electric service did nothing to turn on a single new light bulb in our city,” Arias and Karbassi said in a joint statement. “The only pathway to solving these problems immediately is working with our local utility and focusing efforts on rapidly bringing these properties on-line. We are grateful to open a dialogue between PG&E’s highest leadership and the Fresno City Council.”

Patterson and a delegation of local officials will meet with PG&E operations and management officials Thursday to develop an action plan.

A tentative list of attendees for Thursday’s meeting includes Arias, Karbassi, Patterson, State Center Community College District Trustee and Councilmember-Elect Annalisa Perea, Assemblymember Joaquin Arambula, State Center Chancellor Carole Goldsmith, PG&E Central Valley Regional Vice President Joshua Simes and PG&E service planning officials, according to a news release.

“We look forward to working with PG&E officials to establish a 60-day action plan to address our city’s top priority projects for rapid electrification,” stated Arias and Karbassi. “This will ensure Fresnans are able to move into new homes, get our educational campuses up-and-running, and help businesses grow quickly.”