Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments

BackItUpWithLinks t1_jcauqsw wrote

Burying lines is stupid expensive.

Yes, more expensive than sending crews out to fix downed lines.

32

PM_Georgia_Okeefe t1_jcb5ltg wrote

Not only for the labor to do it, but it's my understanding that you need to push more electricity through buried cables as they don't carry as far.

2

DohBilly t1_jcbttrv wrote

I’m not an expert but that just doesn’t sound right. Assuming the cables they use above ground would be the same as the ones for buried lines, and why wouldn’t they be, the cables will “carry” just as far

3

RelationshipJust9556 t1_jcckesy wrote

They are very much different. the cables on poles wouldn't last a year in the ground, cold, moisture, corrosion (like 8 types of it)

Those pipes will never bee leak proof so conduits with water in them is common and expected.

​

SO i see a dieefernt current/voltage/amperage would be needed and the runs can't be overly long.

3

PM_Georgia_Okeefe t1_jcbvf3g wrote

I'm not an expert either, but this Wikipedia article touches on the point of how underground cable length is affected by... stuff.

My background is in software development and sales. Electricity is pretty much magic to me.

1

DohBilly t1_jcc7k5f wrote

I looked into it a little more and it appears you’re right. I’m a physics major graduating in May and I would say despite taking 2 semesters of electricity and magnetism, electricity is also magic to me.

4

Azr431 t1_jcc34bz wrote

Also, these operating costs are most likely booked as annual accruals, whereas burying lines would have enormous up-front capital costs. In a capitalist environment, nobody wants to load that kind of debt

2

PissTapeExpert t1_jcc5ugi wrote

You're wrong. My wife develops housing communities across the country and has to deal with this all the time, but instead of anecdotal evidence let me post directly from FEMAs own site.

"Installing underground lines costs more initially than overhead lines, but the underground lines are less prone to damage and disruptions, and maintenance is less expensive."

−2

RelationshipJust9556 t1_jccl4wi wrote

Tell that to the homeowner that had his lawn ripped up 4x to fix 4 different main line faults before grid replaced the entire run. ripping up his lawn a 5th

3