Trystan Casey
Burying power lines, also known as undergrounding, is a costly process that can cost up to US$1 million per mile, with the cost being influenced by factors such as geography and population density. The high cost of undergrounding is a significant factor in electric companies' reluctance to bury their lines. In North Carolina, for example, it was estimated that burying power lines statewide would take 25 years and increase electricity rates by 125%. Additionally, underground power lines are not without their disadvantages; they are more vulnerable to flooding and can take significantly longer to repair when issues arise. While burying power lines can reduce the risk of certain types of storm damage, alternative solutions such as proper vegetation management, replacing wooden poles with steel or concrete ones, or reinforcing poles with guy wires may be more cost-effective.
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What You'll Learn
- Burying power lines is expensive, costing up to $1 million per mile
- Underground lines are more vulnerable to flooding and equipment issues
- Burying lines is a lengthy process, estimated to take 25 years in North Carolina
- Electric rates would increase, with customer bills rising by up to 125%
- Underground lines can take 60% longer to fix when issues occur
Burying power lines is expensive, costing up to $1 million per mile
Burying power lines, or "undergrounding", is a costly endeavour, with estimates placing the cost at around $1 million per mile. This cost is highly variable, however, and can be halved or tripled depending on the geography and population density of the service area. For example, the North Carolina Utilities Commission found that burying the state's distribution lines would cost $41 billion and take 25 years to complete, with electricity rates needing to increase by 125% to fund the project.
The high cost of undergrounding is due in part to the modifications required for the power lines. The wires need to be insulated, as they produce a lot of heat, and this heat needs to be managed by wrapping the wires in plastic and surrounding them with a conduit like oil. The density of the local population and the terrain can also significantly impact the cost, with undergrounding costing up to 10 times more than overhead wires in some cases.
While undergrounding can provide benefits such as improved aesthetics and reduced storm damage from wind, ice, and trees, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Underground lines are more vulnerable to flooding and can fail due to equipment issues or lightning. Additionally, they take significantly longer to repair when issues arise.
Despite the high cost, some areas have decided to move forward with undergrounding projects. For example, Pacific Gas and Electric plans to bury 10,000 miles of power lines in Northern California to reduce wildfire risk, with a budget of up to $20 billion. Similarly, the city of Anaheim, California, has been gradually burying its above-ground power lines since the 1990s.
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Underground lines are more vulnerable to flooding and equipment issues
Burying power lines, or "undergrounding", is a costly endeavour that can cost up to US$1 million per mile, and this cost can be halved or tripled depending on the geography and population density of the service area. While undergrounding can make electricity service more resilient to wind damage, it also increases vulnerability to flooding and equipment issues.
Underground power lines are designed to resist water under normal and extreme operating conditions. Medium- and high-voltage cables are often placed below the water table, in a permanently wet environment. Underground cables are expected to meet rigorous standards that address operation under adverse weather conditions like flooding, taking into account both moisture and chemical resistance. The cables' outer jackets are made of polymeric materials that resist moisture permeation to prevent water incursion over the life of the system.
However, vulnerabilities can still exist, particularly at open-air terminations at ground level, where external or internal contamination can occur due to poor sealing. While submersible solutions like elbow and T-bodies exist and have shown resilience to flooding, they are not foolproof and are still susceptible to failure under certain conditions.
The impact of flooding on underground power lines is a complex issue, and while cables are designed to withstand water ingress, the potential for equipment issues and failures cannot be entirely eliminated. The risk of flooding is a significant consideration for electric companies when deciding whether to bury their power lines, as it can lead to service disruptions and increased maintenance costs.
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Burying lines is a lengthy process, estimated to take 25 years in North Carolina
Burying power lines is a costly and time-consuming process, and this is especially true in North Carolina. Following a 2002 ice storm that left about 2 million customers without electricity, a disaster preparedness task force studied the option of burying the state's entire power distribution system. The task force found that this process would take 25 years and cost $41 billion, increasing electricity rates by 125%.
The lengthy nature of this process is due to the significant amount of work required to bury power lines. Undergrounding entails digging trenches, laying power lines in insulated conduits, and then burying them. This process is much more expensive than overhead power lines, costing up to ten times more. The cost of burying power lines can vary depending on the geography and population density of the service area, with some areas being more challenging and costly to work in than others.
Additionally, underground power lines are more challenging to access for routine maintenance and repairs, which can prolong the duration of outages. They are also more susceptible to damage from corrosive storm surges and flooding, which can further increase costs and impact the reliability of the power supply.
While burying power lines can provide benefits, such as improved aesthetics and reduced wind damage, the high costs and lengthy timeline of the process in North Carolina have been significant deterrents.
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Electric rates would increase, with customer bills rising by up to 125%
Burying power lines, or "undergrounding", is an expensive process, with costs that are ultimately passed on to the customer in the form of increased electric rates. In the case of North Carolina, after a 2002 storm that knocked out electricity to 2 million customers, the state Utilities Commission found that burying the state's distribution lines underground would cost approximately $41 billion and would require around 25 years to complete. As a result, customers' rates would need to more than double, increasing by up to 125%. This significant increase in electric rates was deemed unreasonable for consumers, and the project was never initiated.
The cost of undergrounding varies depending on factors such as geography and population density, but it is generally much higher than the cost of overhead power lines. Underground power lines can cost up to ten times more than overhead wires, and they require additional modifications such as insulation to prevent overheating. The high cost of undergrounding is often a significant deterrent for electric companies and communities when considering whether to bury power lines.
While undergrounding can provide benefits such as reduced hurricane-related outages and improved grid resiliency, it also comes with its own set of challenges. Underground power lines are more vulnerable to flooding and can take significantly longer to repair when issues arise. Additionally, alternatives such as proper vegetation management, replacing wooden poles with steel or concrete ones, and reinforcing utility poles with guy wires can provide similar benefits at a lower cost.
The decision to bury power lines involves a complex trade-off between the benefits of improved reliability and safety, and the significant increase in electric rates for customers. Electric companies must carefully consider all costs and benefits to ensure that any investments made provide good value for their customers. Ultimately, the high cost of undergrounding and the potential for substantial increases in customer bills are significant factors in the decision not to bury power lines.
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Underground lines can take 60% longer to fix when issues occur
Burying power lines, or "undergrounding", is a highly expensive process, which is why electric companies often refuse to do it. While it can reduce the number of hurricane-related outages in some places, underground lines have their own set of problems. One of the main disadvantages of underground lines is that they can take significantly longer to fix when issues occur.
Underground power lines are indeed more reliable under normal weather conditions, but they are more vulnerable to certain issues, such as flooding, equipment failure, and lightning. When something does go wrong with underground power lines, it can take almost 60% longer to fix the issue. This extended repair time is a significant drawback, as it can result in prolonged power outages and increased inconvenience for customers.
The longer repair time for underground power lines is due to several factors. Firstly, accessing and identifying the problem in underground lines can be more complex and time-consuming than with overhead lines. Locating the exact point of failure along a buried line can be challenging, especially if the issue occurs in a densely populated or geographically challenging area. Additionally, specialised equipment and trained personnel may be required to safely access and repair the lines, which can further prolong the process.
Another factor contributing to the longer repair times is the nature of the repairs themselves. Underground power lines are often subject to different types of failures compared to overhead lines. For example, underground lines may experience issues with insulation, conduit integrity, or water ingress, which require more time and resources to address. Moreover, repairs to underground lines may require excavation and trenching, which can be labour-intensive and disruptive to the surrounding infrastructure or environment.
The extended repair times for underground power lines have important implications for electric companies and customers alike. Longer outages can impact the reliability and quality of the power service, affecting customers' daily lives and businesses. Additionally, the increased complexity and duration of repairs can result in higher costs for electric companies, which may ultimately be passed on to customers in the form of higher utility rates. Therefore, when considering the benefits and drawbacks of undergrounding, the potential impact on repair times and the resulting consequences must be carefully weighed.
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Frequently asked questions
Burying power lines, or undergrounding, is expensive and can cost up to US$1 million per mile. It also requires the involvement and approval of many stakeholders, and the process of undergrounding can be time-consuming.
Underground power lines are protected from wind, ice, and tree damage, which are common causes of outages. Burying power lines can also be aesthetically pleasing.
Underground power lines can be vulnerable to flooding and can fail due to equipment issues or lightning. They also take longer to fix when something does happen to them.
Yes, there are alternatives to burying power lines. Communities can replace old wooden utility poles with durable metal frames and tension ropes, called guy wires, to anchor poles to the earth. Vegetation management is also crucial, as maintaining the health of trees through pruning, watering, and inoculating against pests can help them endure storms.
