Falls City’s project to move downtown electric utilities underground is advancing with cutovers now underway, according to a public update released Nov. 3 by the City of Falls City.
Watts Electric, the contractor on the job, has started transferring individual properties from overhead electric lines to the recently installed underground system. The company is reaching out to each affected customer to schedule temporary power outages as the cutover work progresses. The update states that outages will vary based on the complexity of a service connection and are typically expected to last between 1 and 5 hours.
The work is organized in four phases, based on alley locations within the downtown area. Properties adjacent to alleys inside these zones will be part of the transition. A project map shows the designated areas and the planned order of work.
Phase 1 cutovers began the week of Oct. 27 and are expected to continue for about three weeks. Phase 2 is scheduled to begin after Phase 1 and continue into early December. Cutover schedules for Phases 3 and 4 have not yet been set.
Once Phases 1 and 2 are completed, the city plans to remove electric poles and overhead wires in those areas. That work is dependent on weather but could begin as early as January 2026. Removal for Phases 3 and 4 will follow their respective transitions.
The city noted that Spectrum cable lines will not be removed by Watts Electric and will instead be handled separately by Spectrum contractors, who will coordinate directly with customers.
The project is anticipated to be finished in Spring 2026.
Residents with questions are asked to contact the Falls City Utility Office at 402-245-2851.
