RANCHO SANTA FE — The last of 18 power poles was removed from the village and the Rancho Santa Fe Association, the county of San Diego and SDG&E held a ceremony May 1 to commemorate the event.

After four years of planning and execution, all utility lines are now underground along Linea del Cielo and El Tordo. More than 1,200 feet of electric wire and 1,500 feet of telephone cables are now underground, located primarily in the alley behind the pharmacy and the Rancho Santa Fe Garden Club.

The Association first requested funding for the project from the county in September 2003, and SDG&E began its design work in 2004.

Full funding for the million-dollar project was approved by the County Board of Supervisors in November 2006 and the groundbreaking ceremony was held April 2007.

The project was completed in one year despite setbacks caused by the 2007 wildfires. SDG&E had to pull crews to restore power to the burned areas.

Association Vice President Bob Spears presided over the ceremony, thanking members of staff, the county and SDG&E for their help and cooperation. He then flipped the power switch to remove the last remaining pole.