Katie Jereza, Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Electricity, on Sept. 9 joined Burbank Water and Power CEO and General Manager Mandip Samra, and California Energy Commission Supervisor Alex Kovalick, for a live grid modernization demonstration, showcasing how targeted federal investment is making American energy more reliable and affordable for communities across the nation, and laying the groundwork to power the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games, the California public power utility noted.
The event, held at the Starlight Bowl in Burbank, California, featured an active line-replacement demonstration of BWP's 4 kV (kilovolt, 1000 volts) to 12 kV distribution system upgrade, a 10-year grid modernization initiative backed by $5.1 million in federal funding. The conversion expands grid capacity, reduces outages, and positions Burbank to meet an increase in electricity demand over the next decade.
Burbank Water and Power serves more than 54,000 electric customers and 27,000 water customers across a 17-square-mile service area in the heart of the "Media Capital of the World", a community of 104,000 residents, with an additional 146,000 people arriving daily to studios and companies including Warner Bros., The Walt Disney Company, and Nickelodeon.
"Keeping that community powered reliably, affordably, and with capacity to grow is the mission driving today's investment," BWP said.
- Expanded grid capacity: Converting from 4 kV to 12 kV infrastructure allows significantly higher power throughput through existing corridors, increases system efficiency, eliminating the bottlenecks that cause outages during peak demand.
- Award-winning reliability: BWP is a nationally designated R3 utility by the American Public Power Association, placing it in the top 5 percent of utilities in the country across reliability, safety, workforce development, and system improvement, including a 99.997 percent electric reliability rate.
- Baseload power: BWP's Magnolia Power Project, a 323 MW combined-cycle natural gas plant, received $49 million in state funding for critical upgrades, adding 50 MW of peak capacity and ensuring reliable local generation for Burbank and five other Southern California utilities.
- Workforce investment: BWP's apprenticeship and journeyman training program is developing the next generation of skilled American energy workers, line crews who will maintain and modernize the grid for decades to come.
"Public power at its best is exactly what you see happening here today, a federal investment working its way into the community, literally, improving the lives of the people we serve. We are building it, street by street, with the support of our federal and state partners," said Samra.
The stakes of today's work extend well beyond Burbank's neighborhoods, BWP said.
Warner Bros. Studios' The Ranch Lot, has been selected by the International Olympic Committee to serve as the International Broadcast Center for the LA28 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The facility will function as the global headquarters for international media rights holders, bringing the Games to billions of viewers worldwide. The energy and water infrastructure that will power that operation runs through BWP's grid, the same grid being modernized today.
“America’s energy strength is built community by community, and Burbank is putting that principle into action," said Jereza.
"This $5.1 million federal investment is expanding grid capacity, strengthening reliability, and preparing the electric system to meet growing demand. From powering the everyday lives of families and businesses to helping bring the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games to billions of viewers worldwide, this project demonstrates how strategic grid investments deliver results far beyond the wires - strengthening our communities and America’s ability to compete on the world stage,” she said.
