The mushrooming of urban areas in the country is a clear indication that the population continues to grow. Consequently, it has led to an increase in electricity demand. Therefore, electricians have their work cut out since the installation of power lines must match suburban growth rates. While conventional wisdom suggests that overhead transmission lines will continue to be the norm, line burial has been gaining appeal. Here are the reasons why the installation of underground power lines is gaining popularity in urban areas.
Reduced Power Outages
While both overhead and underground power lines are not immune to outages, the former are more susceptible to falling branches, animal activities, and extreme weather. For instance, strong winds can break tree branches, which can fall on power lines and cause blackouts. Notably, repairs can take longer and depend on the availability of electrical contractors. Therefore, if a power outage occurs at night, residents and businesses might have to wait till morning. Thus, property owners may prefer underground distribution lines because they are protected from the elements. Moreover, contractors typically encase underground lines in protective sheathing to provide additional safety, especially in areas that experience high vehicle traffic. Consequently, it reduces the possibility of unplanned power outages.
Protecting Property Value
Property owners looking to sell their home or land in future want to increase the value. For instance, a property with beautiful trees is likely to trade higher than one with a bare landscape. However, electrical contractors might be forced to trim nearby trees when installing aboveground power lines. It is a sore spot for investors because cutting trees reduces the value of a property, just like loosely hanging power lines. It explains why underground power lines have become an increasingly appealing alternative, especially for property owners looking to sell in the future for a profit.
New and Cheap Trenching Technologies
Traditional trenching techniques used to install underground power lines are expensive for property owners because they need heavy earth moving equipment. Thanks to advancements in trenching technologies, contractors today can use boring equipment instead of heavy earth moving equipment. Boring tools allow electrical contractors to dig holes below ground and pull electrical cables. The best part is that underground lines can be installed underneath houses without interfering with the foundation. Consequently, such projects have become affordable because there are fewer materials and tools to deal with.
Contact a power installation service today for more information.
