It seems kind of primitive to have power lines just hanging on poles, right?

Bit unsightly too

Is it just a cost issue and is it actually significant when considering the cost of power loss on society (work, hospital, food, etc)?

  • tal@lemmy.todayEnglish
    5·
    12 hours ago

    You can do it, but it costs more. I understand that some of the reason that California’s electricity rates are as high as they are is because PG&E is doing a bunch of burying lines.

    EDIT:

    https://schlanj.substack.com/p/why-electricity-prices-in-california

    The IOUs spent $7.7 billion in 2024 on wildfire mitigation, which equates to 4.2 ¢/kWh. Due to years of fire suppression, exacerbated by warming trends, and the desire to build homes in wooded areas, wildfires caused by downed distribution lines are a never-ending problem. To resolve the situation, the utilities are burying the power lines, but the cost is enormous.

    Wildfire mitigation accounts for just over half of the price premium.