STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E)
Suncrest 230 Kilovolt (kV) Loop-In Project

Application A.26-05-005, filed May 8, 2026

This page was last updated: August 2026

Welcome to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) website for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) review of the Suncrest 230 Kilovolt (kV) Loop-In Project (Project) proposed by San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) (Applicant). An application (A.26-05-005) for the Project was submitted to the CPUC on May 8, 2026. This site provides access to public documents and information relevant to the CEQA review process. Additional project information and documentation will be posted as it becomes available.

The proposed Project will be reviewed under CEQA. The CPUC will prepare a CEQA environmental document as the CEQA 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:

CPUC Review Process

Following receipt of a complete application, the CPUC conducts two parallel processes when considering development proposed by a regulated utility:

(1) an application process, in which the CPUC reviews the utility’s proposal and considers whether the project is needed and is in the public interest; and

(2) an environmental review process pursuant to CEQA.

Under CPUC General Order (GO) 131-E, which supersedes GO 131-D, a project applicant may now elect to prepare a draft version of a negative declaration, mitigated negative declaration, Environmental Impact Report (EIR), addendum or analysis on the applicability of an exemption from CEQA in lieu of a Proponent's Environmental Assessment (PEA).

Click here for more information about the CPUC’s decision and review process.
The proceeding schedule is managed on the docket card for the application.

Click here for information and documents associated with the CPUC’s proceeding for the Project.

Introduction and Background

SDG&E, in its CPUC application (A.26-05-005) filed on May 8, 2026, requests a Permit to Construct (PTC) for the Suncrest 230 kV Loop-In Project (Project). The CPUC's GO 131-E outlines rules for the permitting and construction of electrical transmission lines, power lines, distribution lines, substations, and electric generation facilities in California. As part of the application review process, the CPUC conducts an efficient and thorough environmental review process under GO 131-E and CEQA.

The Project would consist of construction of an approximately 14.5-mile-long, double-circuit 230 kV transmission line consisting of overhead and underground segments to interconnect SDG&E’s existing Transmission Line (TL) 23021 into the existing Suncrest Substation. The proposed 230 kV transmission line would create a loop for system reliability. The Project would also include modifications to the existing Suncrest Substation, including (1) installation of a 500/230 kV transformer bank and associated tertiary reactors, circuit breakers, disconnects, and communication equipment and (2) construction of a 230 kV bay to accommodate the loop-in of TL 23021 to the existing Suncrest Substation. The Proposed Project would cross unincorporated communities within San Diego County, California, including Crest and Harbison Canyon. Figure 1 shows the proposed route.

The California Independent System Operator's (CAISO) 2022-2023 Transmission Plan identified the need for the Proposed Project to upgrade the California electric grid to accommodate load growth. The Proposed Project would:

• Address operational challenges and thermal overloads on SDG&E’s existing TL 23054 and TL 23055 from SDG&E’s existing Suncrest Substation to the existing Sycamore Canyon Substation, as well as operational challenges and thermal overloads on the existing transformers at the Suncrest Substation.
• Help supply the increase in forecasted load related to regional electrification.

Environmental Review

As the CEQA Lead Agency, the CPUC will prepare an Environment Impact Report (EIR) to evaluate the environmental effects of the Proposed Project. The following table includes milestones and anticipated dates for the CEQA review process.

Project Milestones
Milestone	Date
Application and Administration Draft EIR submitted by SDG&E to CPUC	May 8, 2026
30-Day Application Completeness Review due	June 7, 2026
Application Deemed Complete by CPUC	June 4, 2026
Notice of Preparation and Scoping	August 21 – September 21, 2026
Draft EIR Publication	Q3 2027

EIR Scoping

Notice of Preparation of an Environmental Impact Report

The CPUC has prepared a Notice of Preparation (NOP) of an EIR for the Project to solicit agency and public input on the scope of the EIR.

The NOP may be viewed here. A shortened version of the NOP, which may be view here, was also prepared for newspaper circulation and mailings.

A Spanish version of the shortened NOP may be viewed here.

During the 30-day scoping period, beginning August 21, 2026 and ending at 5:00 p.m. on September 21, 2026, all interested parties, including responsible and trusteee agencies, groups, and the public, are invited to provide input on the scope of the EIR.

Please send your comments on the scope and content of the EIR by email to CEQA@suncrestloop-in.com or by mail to:

Connie Chen, CPUC
Suncrest 230kV Loop-In Project
c/o ECORP Consulting, Inc; Attn: D.Atwater
3838 Camino del Rio North, Suite 370
San Diego, CA 92108

Email messages should have "SDG&E Suncrest 230kv Loop-In Project" as the subject line.

Scoping Meeting and Scoping Report

In order for the public and agencies to have an opportunity to submit verbal comments on the scope of the EIR, two virtual meetings (one in the morning and one in the evening) will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. Meeting information is provided below.

Following the scoping meetings, a Scoping Report will be prepared to describe the process of scoping and summarize comments received during the scoping period.

It should be noted that the Scoping Report and presentation will reflect the Project design as submitted in the original PTC application submitted on May 8, 2026.

Documents Available for Review

Public documents related to the Project and Draft EIR for the Suncrest 230 kV Loop-In Project can be found here:

SDG&E Project Application (May 8, 2026)

Proponent’s Administrative Draft Version of an EIR (May 8, 2026)
Suncrest 230 kV Loop-In Project Administrative Draft EIR – Volume I
Suncrest 230 kV Loop-In Project Administrative Draft EIR – Volume II

CPUC Administrative Draft EIR Completeness Letter (June 4, 2026)

For Additional Information

The CPUC Energy Division is managing the environmental review of the Project. The CPUC's Project Manager is:

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