Cooperative Living May 2021 - 25

CloserLook | by Paul Wesslund, Contributing Columnist
O V E R H E A D
or
BELOW GROUND
The best place for power lines depends largely on cost
hen a hurricane, wildfire or
other natural disaster causes
a widespread power outage,
people often question the wisdom of
above-ground power lines. The debate
over power line placement comes with
lists of pros and cons. But one of those
cons tends to drown out the others -
cost. When people hear that burying
power lines could more than double
their electric bills, that tends to end
the discussion.
W
UP OR DOWN
Make no mistake about it. Power
outages are expensive. In fact, they're
estimated to cost the U.S. $150 billion
annually. Wouldn't burying power
lines save some of that money?
It's true that burying lines
underground would protect them
from wind, fire, ice, tree branches
and motorist accidents. It would also
keep poles and wires from getting
in the way of the natural scenery.
But, when something goes wrong,
finding and repairing a problem up in
the air can be a lot easier and faster
than locating and digging up the exact
spot of an underground malfunction.
Also, underground power lines
aren't completely safe from natural
disasters. They've been known to get
overwhelmed with flooding, while
digging or other construction can slice
into underground service.
COST VERSUS CONVENIENCE
But it really all boils down to cost.
A 2012 study by the Edison Electric
Institute, a group that represents big
power companies, estimated that
burying existing lines would cost
between $93,000 and $5 million per
mile of line, depending on the type
of service and the terrain.
co-opliving.com
The study also included a survey
that found 60% of respondents said
they would be willing to pay up to 10%
more on their energy bills to have their
power lines buried. But when told
underground lines might double their
bills, more than 75% of the survey
respondents said " no. "
Converting to underground lines
also could mean higher expense to
homeowners who might have to install
different electrical equipment to
accommodate the new connections.
Some people do have underground
service. One estimate places that
number at about 40% of utility
customers. In some cases, utilities
are placing new electric service
underground, even though that cost
is more expensive as well.
It can cost three times as much to
build new underground service
compared with overhead lines. About
20% of the money spent on new electric
service construction of distribution
lines goes for underground projects.
While underground service is often
impractical, utilities are finding other
ways to increase reliability, by using
modern smart grid technology and
drone patrols, as well as more oldfashioned
tree trimming. ■
Paul Wesslund writes on consumer and
cooperative affairs for the National Rural
Electric Cooperative Association.
THE PROS AND CONS OF
OVERHEAD AND UNDERGROUND POWER LINES
OVERHEAD
PROS
* Less expensive to build and repair
* Easier to spot faults/damage
* Can be built on any terrain
CONS
* Susceptible to wind, ice and snow
* More vulnerable to damage from trees and vegetation
* More vulnerable to blinks caused by animals
* Susceptible to damage from vehicle collisions
UNDERGROUND
PROS
* Less susceptible to vehicle collisions
* Unaffected by trees, wind, ice and snow
* Less vulnerable to blinks caused by animals
CONS
* More expensive to build and repair
* Susceptible to flooding
* Difficult to locate faults/damage
* Vulnerable to damage fromdigging
May 2021 | Cooperative Living | 23
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Cooperative Living May 2021

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