The Cost of NOT Putting Power Lines Underground

An article in the Los Angeles Times correctly reveals that the utilities’ losses from the recent wildfires will be paid for by the ratepayers. 

Several years ago, the Oakland hillsides’ eucalyptus trees fueled huge fires, destroying the homes there. Subsequently, to pay for undergrounding the hillside utility wires, the Legislature put a surcharge on the utility bills of all Californians.

Currently, at the California Public Utilities Commission, the utilities have been fighting the undergrounding of their wires statewide. This, despite the fact that Europe and Japan have long ago learned that the lifecycle costs of undergrounding pays for itself.

California needs to adopt a comprehensive undergrounding policy. When it does, ratepayers’ savings will be substantial.

Currently, utilities profit from millions spent annually on tree-trimming for line clearance, millions spent for reconstruction of their own facilities lost in fires, and millions spent on litigation costs when fires are attributed to fallen utility poles and wires causing death and destruction.

Undergrounding also minimizes exposures to elevated levels from electromagnetic fields. And, the aesthetic benefits of undergrounding significantly enhance property values, as well.

Sincerely,

Ellen Stern Harris
Executive Director, Fund for The Environment
Editor of www.BeverlyHillsCitizen.org
P.O.Box 228 / Beverly Hills, CA 90213