A public meeting will be held in Alpine from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday to gather input about San Diego Gas & Electric’s plans to rebuild hundreds of miles of transmission lines in the backcountry — a project that would include replacing more than 1,800 wood poles with fire-resistant steel ones mostly in the Cleveland National Forest.

The $418 million, five-year project has been proposed by the utility as a way to make the transmission system more reliable and reduce the risk of wildfire. Some of the work could occur in designated wilderness areas.

The state’s Public Utilities Commission will conduct the meeting in the Alpine Community Center, 1830 Alpine Blvd.