SANTA ANA

In an effort to preserve streets and save money, the city’s Public Works Agency is studying imposing trench-cutting fees on utility companies that cut into roads to install power lines. The city says it pays millions to repave streets that erode more quickly after utility trenches have been cut.

To recover those costs, the city recommends a fee of $9.35 per square foot for brand-new to 5-year-old arterial streets, and a fee of $2.73 per square foot for 21- to 25-year-old residential streets. Similar fees have been imposed in Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Union City near the Bay Area. Santa Ana officials suggested at a recent council meeting that the utility companies coordinate installing their power lines before a street has to be repaved. Information: (714) 647-5659.