May 10--Southern California Edison expects to begin construction on a $90 million project in about one month that the utility says will benefit Banning, Beaumont, Yucaipa and unincorporated communities in the area.

The utility is building an electrical substation, El Casco, south of Calimesa in San Timoteo Canyon. Project manager Scott Lacy said the substation will support and connect to smaller distribution substations in Banning, Beaumont, Yucaipa and Mentone.

The substation also will serve the surrounding area, including customers between Highway 60 and Interstate 10.

In addition, Edison plans to upgrade substations in Yucaipa and Banning. Lacy said the utility is not expanding the facilities.

The utility also is upgrading 15 miles of electric lines in the area. Old power poles and wires will be replaced and a second set of wires will be installed, Lacy said.

Lacy said this will add to El Casco's ability to serve adjacent substations.

In 2007, some residents of the Sun Lakes Country Club in Banning said they wanted Edison to bury transmission lines near their golf course. The Banning City Council agreed.

The California Public Utilities Commission ultimately ruled that because the lines predated Sun Lakes, Edison could keep the new lines above ground.

Edison expects to complete the project by November 2010.

Edison crews and contractors will do the work.

Currently, two transmission lines connect to each substation that Edison operates in Banning and Beaumont. One line serves as a backup.

This project will supply the substations with additional electrical lines.

Banning provides electricity for residents and local businesses through a municipal utility. Lacy said the city receives electricity from Edison's Banning substation.

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