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The Cost of Getting Power Lines UndergroundYou're paying for the process, but the results aren't obviously apparentANCHORAGE - Many people were reminded how much they love electricity during the recent Anchorage windstorm, as trees snapped and uprooted crushing power lines and polls. Many also wondered why there aren't more lines going underground. “It’s happening, but it's hard to do it all at once,’ said Phil Steyer of Chugach Electric. Chugach Electric says the price of ‘undergrounding’ lines can cost anywhere from $500,000 to $5 million per mile - and every electricity bill includes a 2 percent surcharge to cover the costs. “The municipal ordinance that calls for undergrounding of lines gives guidance of what gets underground, and utilities are allowed the flexibility to underground for reasons of safety, reliability, load growth,” said Steyer. The city also has target areas near schools or parks where undergrounding can make the area more visually pleasing. Chugach says it collects $3 million a year from the surcharge. ML&P says it collects $2 million. ML&P’s current project is in the area of 15th Avenue between Cordova and Gambell. In South Anchorage, Chugach is working on a $2 million project putting lines underground along Victor Road and a nearly $1 million project along Jewel Lake near Sand Lake Elementary. “It costs more to put it in because you have to do looping and you need more land and you have to negotiate,” said ML&P General Manager Jim Posey. Posey says it will be another 50 years before they get the entire job done. “The average cost per facility house or apartment is $38,000 dollars,” he said. Maintenance is also a much more challenging job and raises costs. “Overhead lines you can identify and quickly fix something,” said Posey. “Underground facilities because they don't have the air around them to dissipate the heat all that heat is contained and over time breaks down the insulation around the conductor,” said Phil Steyer of Chugach. |
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Kevin S said on Sunday, Sep 30 at 9:05 AM
The replacement frequency is less of a problem than weather induced damage. Ice, wind and even vehicle collisions cause frequent damage. I've never heard of a transformer attached to underground power lines exploding. All of those things do create job security for the utility workers but I'd rather have reliable power.
102988735Raven33 said on Thursday, Sep 27 at 11:00 AM
Hey Mikey... I think you're the one thats doing the whining!
102797506mikey372002 said on Thursday, Sep 27 at 9:38 AM
Wow what a huge bunch of crying babies, WaaaWaaa I cant do anything without electricity, You people cry when you get your bill in the mail, you cry when a big storm knocks out power, you cry when the power workers dont jump to your attention when you want your lights back on, What a bunch of crying Babies, grown men (crying babies) wow your parents would be proud of you, Put down your crack pipe and hold off on going to the liquer store for your cheap beer, and the banks will be open later so you can go cash your welfare check, Just stop crying like a big baby, just because you wear depends at an early adult stage does not mean others want to hear you crybaby.
102791316Frederick Russian said on Thursday, Sep 27 at 8:32 AM
Maybe this is all the more reason to barge by Safe Tankers liquified natural gas to all the water assessable villages, towns and cities in coastal river Alaska ?
102785846Jon said on Thursday, Sep 27 at 8:17 AM
And what happens in a severe earthquake? How long will it take to locate and repair the possible outages resulting from that? A 50 year process? How many times by then will what was already buried be needing replacement? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ Better get into the IBEW Union, it's the only way you will be able to afford to pay your elect. bill.
102784786julie. said on Wednesday, Sep 26 at 10:49 PM
Yep Kevin S. except for the expense of doing so and increase electricity rates which most people don't want to pay.
102758336Kevin S said on Wednesday, Sep 26 at 9:41 PM
They should have been putting them underground since the 60's. With the kind of weather we have, it just makes sense.
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