A consumer group in California is opposing a proposal by PG&E to move 10,000 miles of its electrical transmission lines underground to avoid future wildfires caused by downed lines, according to a story on Monday in the Mercury News, formerly known as the San Jose Mercury News.

The plan, similar to what has started to be discussed in the wake of the deadly Lahaina fire, is being criticized as adding financial pain to consumers already stressed by increasing utility rates and general rates of inflation.

“We have a real affordability crisis for utility costs,” according to Mark Toney, executive director of a consumer group, The Utility Reform Network, or TURN. “One of the biggest cost drivers is this massive expense for burying 10,000 miles of PG&E power lines.”

TURN is promoting an alternative plan to insulate power lines rather than move them underground, similar to what is being done by Southern California Edison, which operates in the Los Angeles area.

TURN estimates the cost of insulation at $800,000 per mile. The utility says that moving lines underground will cost between $2.8 million and $3.3 million per mile.

PG&E estimates its cost to go underground will run between $15 billion and $30 billion, and the company is asking for approval to pass the cost on to consumers, as would likely happen here.

High cost has been the major reason that utility wires have been run above ground on poles, despite their vulnerability to fire, earthquakes, and other disasters, and it is sure to be central to Hawaii’s discussions over how to best avoid a future repeat of the Lahaina fire.

See:

“Buried treasure: Building the business case for undergrounding,” Utility DIVE, August 21, 2023

“‘Not a simple operation’: Why many Duke Energy power lines aren’t underground,” WCNC (Charlotte, NC), August 14, 2023

“Hawaiian Electric Lawsuit Is More Evidence That Electric Grids Across the U.S. Need Updating,” TIME, August 18, 2023

“A solution for California’s wildfire safety deficit,” Stanford News Service, August 7, 2023