showcrop
Well-known Member
Following four widespread significant duration power outage events here in the northeast in about three years, there are many calling for all wires to be buried so that tree branches don't bring them down. For some time virtually all new subdivisions have been required to bury them. It appears to me that the utilities have been doing a good job of cutting trees and branches back to reduce their exposure, but of course they are limited in how far back they can cut, and many roads are tree lined here. I can't imagine the cost to bury the wires let alone getting the easements for the ground space needed. I don't think that most people would go along with it once they find out what it will cost them. Many parts of the country are wide open with probably one tree in a hundred miles that could fall on a wire. Now the southwest has just had an event that brought down a lot of wires. And of course in the central areas and southeast there are now tornadoes taking down wires. What do you think is the solution now that 100 year weather events are an annual occurence?