When Should Electric Utilities Go Underground?

Weighing the expense of burying power lines against the risks of aboveground weather-related damage

Power lines are safer from weather and physical damage underground, but when does it make sense to spend the time and money to bury them?

Many utilities across the U.S. are asking this question as above-ground power lines are increasingly threatened by extreme weather events, wildfires, and physical damage. Utilities often determine how to prioritize undergrounding efforts before they spend time and money on extensive — and expensive — projects. With enough data and climate-informed grid modeling down to individual towers, poles, and components, utilities can locate the most at-risk sections of their above-ground power lines and decide which ones warrant the expense and time of undergrounding projects.