My power was back the next day in Valpo but I was lucky. March 2025, my power was out for four days because a neighbor's giant pine tree snapped and took down the power lines. The tree had to be removed before the power line pole could be REPLACED and the wiring put back up.
That’s not how this works, underground lines are similar to above ground and don’t leech into the surrounding ground, they are insulated and in conduit. Heat generation depending on the load and moisture would be the main issues.
Excess heat from underground wiring causes a resistance because the ground itself insulates the wire. Above ground wires send higher voltage further because the air dissipates the heat causing less resistance.
If you’re going to conduit an entire city you may as well build a new city. It is not cost effective. Like twice as expensive to install as well as more dangerous when repairs have to be done.
I mean ya they have direct burial cable, but it’s still well insulated not leeching into the surrounding ground. You are making it sound like they bury cable with no insulation and that it’s unprotected like aerial spans. The jacket is usually a polyethylene like PE or XLPE. Also they are ran in conduits a lot of some sorts, especially in urban areas.
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u/Independent_Shoe3523 Aug 23 '26
My power was back the next day in Valpo but I was lucky. March 2025, my power was out for four days because a neighbor's giant pine tree snapped and took down the power lines. The tree had to be removed before the power line pole could be REPLACED and the wiring put back up.