Think the power lines get buried now?

[Anonymous]

DC is burying power lines. It is just going to take a long time.

https://oca.dc.gov/page/dcplug

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/pepco-begins-7-year-project-to-put-dc-power-lines-underground/149140/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I came to this country from a European country 20 years ago, and was astonished to see visible power lines in the city and suburbs. Power outages never happen in my home city. I don't know where the transformers are, but they're not exposed to the elements at all.

The USA is the richest country in the world. It's interesting that its residents should still be dealing with exposed power lines. I understand that earthquake-prone areas can't bury their lines, but it doesn't make sense for the rest of the country.

I’m so tired of hearing from Europeans about how things are better.

You have a drier and likely cooler climate. Thunderstorms are about 4x more likely in the US overall and much more in the Southeast.

“ Each year approximately 75–200 thunderstorm hours occur over the southwestern, central, and eastern United States, with a peak over Florida (200–250 h). The activity over the majority of Europe ranges from 15 to 100 h, with peaks over Italy and mountains (Pyrenees, Alps, Carpathians, Dinaric Alps; 100– 150 h).”

You just made our point for us, bozo.
Europe is forward-thinking, even though their risk is lower on average, and the US has absolutely no excuse, given they're much wealthier and their risk is higher.

American here and I agree that the U.S. is so much more short-sighted than other parts of the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I came to this country from a European country 20 years ago, and was astonished to see visible power lines in the city and suburbs. Power outages never happen in my home city. I don't know where the transformers are, but they're not exposed to the elements at all.

The USA is the richest country in the world. It's interesting that its residents should still be dealing with exposed power lines. I understand that earthquake-prone areas can't bury their lines, but it doesn't make sense for the rest of the country.

I’m so tired of hearing from Europeans about how things are better.

You have a drier and likely cooler climate. Thunderstorms are about 4x more likely in the US overall and much more in the Southeast.

“ Each year approximately 75–200 thunderstorm hours occur over the southwestern, central, and eastern United States, with a peak over Florida (200–250 h). The activity over the majority of Europe ranges from 15 to 100 h, with peaks over Italy and mountains (Pyrenees, Alps, Carpathians, Dinaric Alps; 100– 150 h).”

All the more reason to bury the lines.

[Anonymous]

I think it's vine infestation to blame. Storm itself was rather short, over in 1 hr, with some gusts of wind. A lot of mature trees were fine, we noticed younger trees and branches were more vulnerable from our driving around last night. GW pkwy was closed, likely due to falling trees. Every time I drive on DC metro highways I see trees inundated by vines, literally choked. These trees do not survive storms, they are leaning already, and I am not surprised at all they fall into the roads. There is zero effort to remove or control the vines, it's only going to get worse. Even if all power lines were buried, trees will continue to fall into the roads blocking traffic/injuring ppl, not to mention people's homes and cars. There are volunteer groups that come to cut the vines at the root every year in late winter/early spring before leaves come in in some parks.. Not enough, can't depend on a handful of volunteers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would pay more to get my lines buried. It would look so much nicer, on top of the liability.

+1

+1

[Anonymous]

If neighborhood aerial lines cross private property, the owner has to give the utility an easement to underground it. Without that, the utility can not bury the line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Been chatter and workers “studying” this issue for a few years now but am hoping this finally gets the job done. I know some areas are already in ground but it would be great if this finally moves this forward for a wide swath of residences.

I take it you are not familar with DC PLUG?

https://www.dcpluginfo.com/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why do you people act like losing your power for 2-12 hours is the end of the world? There are people in the world who live in mud huts and y’all are having a meltdown over not having your internet and AC for up to half a day 🙄

In 2010 people lost power for 3 days+ in February after a huge snowstorm. It was freezing inside the houses and impossible to leave because of the snow.

I remember that, it was really scary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
I came to this country from a European country 20 years ago, and was astonished to see visible power lines in the city and suburbs. Power outages never happen in my home city. I don't know where the transformers are, but they're not exposed to the elements at all.

The USA is the richest country in the world. It's interesting that its residents should still be dealing with exposed power lines. I understand that earthquake-prone areas can't bury their lines, but it doesn't make sense for the rest of the country.

I’m so tired of hearing from Europeans about how things are better.

You have a drier and likely cooler climate. Thunderstorms are about 4x more likely in the US overall and much more in the Southeast.

“ Each year approximately 75–200 thunderstorm hours occur over the southwestern, central, and eastern United States, with a peak over Florida (200–250 h). The activity over the majority of Europe ranges from 15 to 100 h, with peaks over Italy and mountains (Pyrenees, Alps, Carpathians, Dinaric Alps; 100– 150 h).”

This is an argument FOR burying our power lines in the U.S. if they're buried in Europe, not AGAINST.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Been chatter and workers “studying” this issue for a few years now but am hoping this finally gets the job done. I know some areas are already in ground but it would be great if this finally moves this forward for a wide swath of residences.

I take it you are not familar with DC PLUG?

https://www.dcpluginfo.com/

No, but the mayor told me about it today!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Been chatter and workers “studying” this issue for a few years now but am hoping this finally gets the job done. I know some areas are already in ground but it would be great if this finally moves this forward for a wide swath of residences.

Do you have an extra $25K to have your power lines buried?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Better spent on solar, geothermal, and batteries

Agreed. And transmission.

+1 Burying power lines is a huge waste of money given all the more urgent problems we have. We’ve lived in DC 20 years and lost power due to downed trees only a handful of times, including this weekend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC would benefit from just not planting these huge trees between the street and the sidewalk. Nealy every tree that came down last night in NW, bringing power lines with them, was a big tree by the curb that did not have enough space to grow healthy roots. It's just so stupid.

Well they weren't that big when they were planted 100 years ago like a few that went down on New Mexico.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think it's vine infestation to blame. Storm itself was rather short, over in 1 hr, with some gusts of wind. A lot of mature trees were fine, we noticed younger trees and branches were more vulnerable from our driving around last night. GW pkwy was closed, likely due to falling trees. Every time I drive on DC metro highways I see trees inundated by vines, literally choked. These trees do not survive storms, they are leaning already, and I am not surprised at all they fall into the roads. There is zero effort to remove or control the vines, it's only going to get worse. Even if all power lines were buried, trees will continue to fall into the roads blocking traffic/injuring ppl, not to mention people's homes and cars. There are volunteer groups that come to cut the vines at the root every year in late winter/early spring before leaves come in in some parks.. Not enough, can't depend on a handful of volunteers.

Um, no. Have you driven through Wesley Heights, Kent or Foxhall? Vines have nothing to do with the destruction.

[Anonymous]

Neighborhoods built after the early 1970’s or so are built with underground utilities in Virginia per code. The cost of underground vs aerial is 10X. In more rural areas the cost is 10X plus.

Aerial to underground conversions can be done in older neighborhoods but municipalities expect the utilities to pay and that is not going to happen, those costs will be borne by their customers. Newer homes built in older neighborhoods have their individual drops underground but the underlying distribution infrastructure is still above ground.

The derecho of 2012 hit at the end of June resulting in 1.2M homes without power. This past Saturday’s storm was 11 years and a month to the day. The impact was far less unless of course you have a tree in your house/car or were without power for more than 12 hours.