Overhead power lines in view of sensitive areas of Walker and Walker Road in the Prescott National Forest obviously detracts from the scenic value of both the National Forest and the community but more importantly significantly reduces the safety of all the people that live in that area or that use Walker Road.

  Yavapai County and the city of Prescott have an obligation to operate and regulate utilities, like APS, in a manner that benefits the community while being sensitive to the impact of the neighborhood's environment and most importantly their safety.   APS is trying to improve the service to more people moving to the Walker area.  That is understood and appreciated. We DON'T believe overhead power lines and large steel poles along Walker Road are the proper solution in this day of modern technology.  We believe the two choices that would provide an acceptable solution to both entities are either underground cables or replacing the existing poles along the existing supply route.  The underground route is preferred.  We understand the initial costs are higher but would be offset by higher reliability and less maintenance in the long run.    The aesthetics are certainly important to us all, but the safety is undeniably the MAJOR RISK.  We all have seen what is happening in CA with overhead power lines.  I have seen statistics that over 1600 wildfires, over the last six years, have been attributed to overhead power lines.  There has been loss of property and loss of life and many legal battles over the problems with overhead power lines.  And now they turn off the power during adverse conditions to prevent wildfires from happening, so where is the improved reliability? We understand that the easiest most convenient plan is to install power poles down Walker Road.  This is not the smartest plan.  The best plan for everyone is to go underground or to recondition the existing supply route.  When evaluating costs of these alternatives, please add the cost of loss of property and loss of life in your investigations.  What is the cost of one lost life or the cost of 10 lost homes, or the cost of future litigation?    One additional concern regarding overhead lines down Walker Road:  if a wildfire occurs or a downed power line occurs, the community has just lost it's main evacuation route.  Residents and trailers cannot get out and rescue services cannot efficiently get in! Again, more losses and more liability.   Our community supports investigating these 2 alternatives, we DON'T support the addition of dangerous power lines overhead and criss crossing Walker road.

If this change occurs the community will not be safe.

We must get involved and make APS choose a plan that guarantees our safety over their profit.