The Oro Valley council voted 6-1 on Wednesday night to fund $2.1 million in contingency reserve funds to underground utility lines along Oracle and Tangerine roads in a three-project proposal brought forth by Tucson Electric Power several months ago.

Last night, the Oro Valley council voted 6-1 to spend $2.1 million, using contingency reserve funds, to underground utility lines along Oracle and Tangerine roads in a three-project proposal brought forth by Tucson Electric Power several months ago.

Oro Valley residents are saying no to above ground utility lines that could be erected along the town’s scenic corridor on Oracle Road, despite the fact the decision could come with a hefty price tag to the contingency reserve fund.

On January 16, 2013, an important question will come before the Oro Valley Town Council: Should we spend $2.1 million to “underground” utility lines for three projects being proposed by Tucson Electric Power?

On January 16, 2013, Oro Valley Town Council will decide whether they want to spend $2.1 million to “underground” utility lines for three projects being proposed by Tucson Electric Power.

After nearly five hours of discussion relating to a zoning amendment of the 110-acre Desert Springs parcel, council had limited time and public input at the Dec. 5 meeting to consider another important issue: the potential authorization of $2.1 million in contingency reserves to fund the underground installation of Tucson Electric Power utility lines.

Letters to the editor published in the March 3, 2010, edition of The Explorer.

Residents of Sun City Vistoso knew that Tucson Electric Power Company wanted to build a substation beneath the power lines spanning the neighborhood and running north into the desert and Pinal County.

After nearly two years disputing the cost of powers lines, Oro Valley and Tucson Electric Power find themselves at a stalemate.

Oro Valley's police will get at least some of the extra pay they've been asking for and Vistoso Partners will get more open space to build on in Rancho Vistoso's Stone Canyon, based on actions taken by the Town Council during a marathon meeting June 19.

The Oro Valley Town Council at its next meeting June 19 will take up again whether to share with Tucson Electric Power Co. the cost of burying new electrical distribution lines that would extend from the utility's Rancho Vistoso substation south and east to a widened Tangerine Road.

Tucson Electric Power Co. is asking the Oro Valley Town Council to put up the money it will take for the utility to conform to the town's ordinance requiring all new utility lines to be placed underground and right now the council is having no part of it.