Overhead vs. Underground Service

Pros

  • Lower cost
  • Quicker construction
  • Easier to spot damage and faults
  • Less expensive to repair and upgrade
  • Can be built in any terrain
  • Any voltage can be placed overhead

Cons

  • Susceptible to wind, ice, and snow
  • More vulnerable to damage from trees and vegetation, which requires right of way trimming
  • Vulnerable to blinks when animals and branches contact lines
  • Susceptible to damage from vehicle collisions
  • Less attractive

Pros

  • Not vulnerable to damage from tree branches
  • Does not interfere with views
  • No right of way (tree trimming required)
  • Less susceptible to damage from vehicle collisions
  • Not impacted by wind, snow, and ice
  • Less vulnerable to blinks when animals and branches contact lines

Cons

  • More expensive to build
  • Susceptible to flooding
  • Difficult to locate faults
  • Expensive to repair
  • Fed by overhead lines at some point, making the lines vulnerable to outages and interruptions
  • Limitations on voltages that can be buried underground
  • Can be vulnerable to dig-ins