Why are overhead power lines still widely used when underground power lines are often considered more aesthetically pleasing and less vulnerable to storms?

2025-07-19

While underground power lines offer aesthetic benefits and protection from some weather events, overhead power lines remain prevalent globally due particularly to:

  • Cost-Effectiveness: overhead lines are significantly less expensive to install and maintain. Laying underground cables involves extensive excavation, specialized insulation, and often more complex repair procedures, which can be 3-5 times more costly per foot.

  • Ease of Maintenance and Repair: When a fault occurs, it's typically much quicker and easier to locate and repair issues on overhead lines through visual inspection and aerial patrols. Underground faults can be challenging to pinpoint and require more invasive and time-consuming excavation.

  • Faster Restoration: In the event of an outage, repairs on overhead lines can often be completed more rapidly, leading to quicker power restoration for communities.

  • Flexibility and Scalability: Expanding capacity or making modifications to overhead lines is generally simpler and more adaptable to evolving energy demands.

Our equipment is crucial for the efficient and safe installation and maintenance of these cost-effective overhead systems.

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