The PROs and CONs of Undergrounding Utilities

There are definite arguments to both sides of this issue, as listed here. Our group, however, believes that the advantages of undergrounding most utilities significantly outweigh the problems of our current antiquated overhead distribution system. Please let us know if there are other reasons we should add to this list.

PROs:

Safety

1. Fire: Much of our neighborhoods are in a “Very High” fire danger zone, where failing trees and branches can easily bring down live electrical cables that have caused many of California’s wildfires.

2. Emergency access: Downed wires and utility poles block access during critical times like storms and after earthquakes. These block access to emergency vehicles.

3. Escape routes get blocked by downed wires and utility poles, putting people in even more danger. This is how many folks died in the Paradise fire.

4. Rescue access: Fire ladder trucks are often limited to accessing upper stories with overhead wires, endangering folks in upper stories during emergencies.

5. Climate change is causing more extreme weather conditions, which especially impacts PG&E’s aging above-ground infrastructure.

6. Auto accidents: are often made more serious by vehicles running into power poles.

Reliability

1. Poorly maintained infrastructure, like deteriorated telephone poles and rusting transformers have caused many outages and fires.

2. Storms and earthquakes: Downed wires cause extensive power outages that result in significant economic loss, food spoilage, and are more than an inconvenience for many residents and businesses.

3. Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPSs): These are required to reduce the risk of wildfires due to wind effecting our antiquated distribution grid, but have drastic effects on local businesses and residents .

4. Information access: Both broadband internet and cable TV, also mounted on utility poles, become unavailable when wires and poles fail, limiting the critical information distribution when most needed.

5. Cellular availability: Many cellular distribution antennas use overhead connections for power and data, which are also disrupted when poles and wires fail.

Beauty

1. View impacts: We live in a world-renowned beautiful coastal setting, and shouldn’t have poles and wires cluttering our views.

2. Aggressive tree/vegetation trimming: After recent lawsuits, PG&E now often over-trims around power lines, leaving unsightly and crippled trees.

Economic impact

1. On businesses: Extended power outages due to either downed equipment or PSPS's have serious consequences for businesses. This includes not only grocery stores and restaurants that have to discard thawed and spoiled foods, but any business that relies on the internet or phone service.

2. On residents: The enjoyment of families playing games by candle light isn’t always that comforting when refrigerators warm up and houses cool down. Many, especially older folks, also rely on medical equipment needing power. Any extended lack of power can result in dire circumstances requiring emergency evacuations.

3. Fire insurance rates are increasing for many residents to unaffordable levels, exposing folks to losing their homes without compensation.

CONs:

1. Installation Costs; We do need to find sources of money, which can be tough in these times with so many other needs. It may take more wildfires, but in the long run, undergrounding has proven to be cost-effective.

2. Installation inconvenience; If done efficiently, installation can be done while repairing streets.

3. Maintenance; Underground utility repairs generally cost more and take longer than overhead wires, but experience has shown that the much lower failure rate of underground utilities result in lower maintain costs and much higher reliability.

Add more reasons!