Modesto Irrigation District Electrical System Improvement (ESI) Program 2026-2033

The Modesto Irrigation District (MID) is undertaking a comprehensive Electrical System Improvement (ESI) Program spanning the period from 2026 to 2033 to enhance and expand its electrical infrastructure across a 568-square-mile service area covering parts of Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Tuolumne counties. The program is required to maintain reliable service within its mandatory 160-square-mile traditional service territory in Stanislaus County and the eight-square-mile City of Mountain House in San Joaquin County, while also operating in a 400-square-mile joint service area where it competes with other utilities. The initiative is governed by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), with the Draft Updated Program Environmental Impact Report serving as the foundational environmental review document. The program must comply with a range of state environmental laws, including the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, Fish and Game Code provisions related to streambed alterations and species protection, and the San Joaquin County Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan, ensuring coordinated mitigation of impacts to sensitive wildlife, wetlands, vegetation, and cultural resources. All activities must align with protocols established by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, including biological surveys, data reporting to the California Natural Diversity Database, and securing necessary incidental take permits where impacts are unavoidable. The primary point of contact for the program is Subbaiah Pasupulati, who serves as the Lead Agency Contact, with additional coordination managed through Esteban Martinez. All environmental documentation, including public comment periods and the final certification decision, must be submitted to the State Clearinghouse under SCH #1999012033, with the project approved by the MID Board on January 27, 2024. The program’s implementation is centered in Modesto, California, with infrastructure improvements extending across multiple counties to meet growing demand from residential, industrial, and agricultural development. While no formal contract pricing, delivery schedules, or procurement-based evaluation criteria are provided, the program operates under strict environmental compliance obligations that function as binding performance requirements. Payments for environmental review filings are directed to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, and all project activities must adhere to mandated mitigation measures, habitat conservation strategies, and regulatory reporting procedures to ensure legal and ecological accountability throughout the eight-year planning horizon.