[central_va]

I’m an electrical engineer and to me, our above ground power grid is really a bad thing, almost stupid. And did I mention really UGLY.

[SnuffaBolshevik]

"I’m an electrical engineer and to me, our above ground power grid is really a bad thing, almost stupid."

I'm not an EE but I agree.

The $15 million a mile quote smells like BS, however. Maybe in the city or the interior suburbs but how much does it cost to run a ditch digger out in the exurbs where the tree problem is the most acute?

Hell, hire the legions of unemployed and give them shovels. Kill 2 birds with one stone. /pissed off sarcasm.

Seriously, I'd like to have someone break down $15 million a mile. That's $2840 a FOOT to dig a ditch and lay wire. I smell BS.

Rant over.

[BobL]

“I’m an electrical engineer and to me, our above ground power grid is really a bad thing, almost stupid. And did I mention really UGLY.”

Most electrical engineers are into communications and computers. The ones that into high-voltage power understand the limitations of running those lines underground for extended distances - which is why NONE EXIST, even for short distances.

[Donald Rumsfeld Fan]

I’m an electrical engineer and to me, our above ground power grid is really a bad thing, almost stupid. And did I mention really UGLY.

The big push for underground distribution lines in Calif began in the 60s. Older communities are still above ground. I live in Anaheim Hills, a planned community, we are 100% underground. Malibu on the otherhand is 100% above ground. PCH Malibu has all overhead lines and it's ugly as hell.

There are no problems with earthquake damage to underground. Flooding can cause problems at transformer vaults however. Had to go out in big stormy nights to pump water out of vaults. The overhead crew had a much tougher time.

malibu