The High Cost of Burying Power Lines

With speculation that downed power lines and exploding transformers may have caused California's most deadly and destructive wildfires, many question why utility companies don't bury these lines through fire-prone areas.

2 minute read

October 27, 2017, 12:00 PM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


Power Lines

Henryk Sadura / Shutterstock

Burying power lines is not cheap, costing at least twice that of an overhead line. Furthermore, the costs would be borne by the utility's customers, which not the company's profits, reports David R. Baker for the San Francisco Chronicle. And it's not just the utilities that are concerned about the added costs.

“We think it’s so expensive that it’s really not feasible,” said Mark Toney, executive director of The Utility Reform Network watchdog group. [A consumer advocacy organization headquartered in San Francisco].

Research by the Bay Area News Group did find that at least 10 problems were reported with Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) lines on the first night of the fires that began on Sunday, Oct. 8, and are expected to be fully contained on Friday, Oct. 27.

Were the power lines responsible for causing the wildfires that have caused 42 deaths, destroyed  at least 8,700 structures, and scorched over 245,000 acres [per CNBC on Oct. 26]? "The simple answer is we don’t know yet," writes Geisha Williams, CEO and president of PG&E Corp. in an op-ed for The Chronicle on Oct. 20.

In an opposing op-ed, Jamie Court, president of the nonprofit nonpartisan group Consumer Watchdog, charges PG&E with negligence for their negligence in reducing wildfire risks around their lines, and also takes aim at Gov. Brown and the California Public Utilities Commission over the vetoing a bill last year to mitigate wildfire risks from overhead utility facilities. The CPUC and CAL FIRE are both conducting investigations to determine the cause of the fires.

Baker reports extensively on the costs of undergrounding of power lines in urban areas which is done primarily for aesthetic reasons, and the costs are much higher than those in undeveloped areas.

For 10 years starting in 1996, [San Francisco] worked with PG&E to place underground 45.8 miles of overhead lines, with the utility estimating a cost of $1 million per mile. Instead, the final price came in at $3.8 million per mile [pdf].

Other utilities have been more aggressive in undergrounding power lines, such as much smaller San Diego Gas and Electric Co., a division of Sempra Energy, which has buried 60 percent of its lines, reports Baker.

Saturday, October 21, 2017 in San Francisco Chronicle

View of small-town street with brick buildings and cars parked in diagonal parking with string lights going across street in Cleveland County, Oklahoma.

Norman, Oklahoma Eliminates Parking Mandates

The city made a subtle, one-word change that frees up developers to build parking based on actual need and eliminates costly unnecessary parking.

September 14, 2023 - Next City

Few passengers waiting in subway station with multiple platforms and "North Station" signs in Boston, Massachusetts

Boston Transit Riders Report Safety Concerns

Almost three-quarters of current and former riders report feeling unsafe while using MBTA services.

September 18, 2023 - Hoodline

View of Boston from Bunker Hill with statue in foreground

Boston to Begin Zoning Code Update, Mayor Announces

It’s been nearly 60 years, but the city of Boston is finally ready to do a comprehensive rewrite of its zoning code.

September 14, 2023 - The Boston Globe

Sidewalk in Seattle with yellow fall leaves on the ground and cars parked next to the curb.

Proposal Could Mandate Sidewalks as Part of Seattle Complete Streets

Almost a third of the city’s neighborhood streets lack sidewalks.

6 hours ago - The Urbanist

View of San Francisco neighborhood from top of hill with misty bay in background.

San Francisco Supervisors Punt Housing Ordinance

After hours of public comment, the zoning reform package aimed at increasing housing production and limiting red tape was delayed for further discussion.

September 24 - SF Standard

Woman wearing helmet riding POGOH bike share bike in bike lane in Pittsburgh, PA.

Pittsburgh Launches Adaptive Bike Share Fleet

The new bikes include a recumbent bicycle and a front-loading cargo bike.

September 24 - Pittsburgh Magazine