TriAg2010 said:
P.H. Dexippus said:
Al Bula said:
OMFG can we put the lines in the ground already?! This is maddening. Underground lines means less linemen required. Just waterproof them and be done with it.
Do it, CenterPoint. Your shareholders deserve better.
Sure buddy. You paying for it?
Yes, sure, fine. We're paying through the nose right now for crews to repair lines again and again after repeated storms. We're paying through the nose for lost productivity. The attitude for some seems to be that if it costs literally anything to prepare for infrequent disaster events then it isn't money well spent.
"It'll cost money" was the same excuse people made for not improving Houston's storm water drainage. Fortunately, better sense prevailed and we slowly but systematically installed storm water sewers across wide stretches of older neighborhoods. That should be the same approach with electrical distribution.
There is a trick here! We are still paying, but the utility isn't!!!! Everything is reimbursed by FEMA!!! All of the outside crews, FEMA money! That's why the fight like cats and dogs to get storm duty. They love getting paid the minute they get in their truck and hitting OT after about 2 days working the storm.
UG construction is very expensive compared to OH. Most utilities will cover the cost or a large portion of OH to a subdivision as they can recover the cost through their rates. To go UG the developer has to pay the difference and most of the time that is a no go for the developer.