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Merino_w00l t1_j3upx5a wrote

Reply to comment by Existing-Bat5810 in Why doesn’t Vermont bury its power lines? by tcchen

Even considering the cost of labor to upkeep and repair overhead lines?

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gmb158 t1_j3uw49c wrote

Not well versed on the subject, but yes. A friend of mines parent, a linesman, explained to me that our industry for line repair and electric in general - New England and NY/PA - provides a lot of help to other states down south that don’t have the same infrastructure or money and get hit even worse by storms

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Deathcrush t1_j3uyev6 wrote

There’s lots of other shit buried underground too which makes it more difficult.

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buried_lede t1_j3vcmuy wrote

Even if you use existing underground utility trenches like where the plumbing and water lines are running, it is still expensive. They have to be sealed from moisture and insulated. The lines put out heat which has to be dealt with more aggressively underground. The seals complicate any repair and require more expensive components and I believe they may not last as long underground, but not sure of that. I read up on it and that was some of the takeaway. Various articles said it was five to 10 times more expensive

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Dire88 t1_j3wg7rd wrote

>Even if you use existing underground utility trenches like where the plumbing and water lines are running, it is still expensive.

Minimum trench separation of water from electrical is 12in, sewer to electrical is 24in.

Yea, it's less than a bucket width. But the difference between a 6in trench and a 24in trench is a hell of a lot harder to bypass ledge.

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ggtffhhhjhg t1_j3wc7wa wrote

Someone did the numbers and above ground lines are cheaper for the power companies.

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