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What Are The Pros And Cons Of Overhead And Underground Power Lines?

18 April 2023

Byron Holmes

If you are building a new housing development, then you might need to build a power system to bring energy into your homes. You can use traditional overhead supply lines here or underground cabling systems.

If you aren't sure which option to use, then read on to learn more about their pros and cons.

What Are the Pros and Cons Of Overhead Power Lines?

Traditional power lines use above-ground poles and cables to deliver energy to buildings. These systems have some useful advantages.

For example, you can build your power supply faster and more cheaply if you site it above the ground. You don't have to dig trenches and lay specially insulated cables. You simply install poles and run regular power cables along them. This is a good option if your build is in a rural area and you need to build a long connecting system.

Overground systems are also easier to repair and maintain. Your power lines are always visible, so engineers can spot and access faults quickly.

However, overhead systems do have downsides. They are exposed, so they are more likely to get damaged by the weather, environmental conditions and birds and animals. Your powerline's lifespan will be shorter.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Underground Power Cabling?

Once you build an underground power line, you hide it from sight. You don't affect local views with ugly poles and cables.

This system works well on shorter builds. It is a good option if your site is in a more urban and built-up area where you would have problems installing a standard overhead system.

Plus, underground systems typically have more protection from damage than exposed overhead systems. Their cables sit safely under the ground. So, they won't suffer from weather, environmental or animal damage. You'll have less repair and maintenance work to do over the lifespan of your system. It will last longer.

The trade-off you get here is mostly cost and time-related. You will pay more to install cables under the ground. Your material costs also increase because you need to buy specially insulated cables. Your system build will take longer, and this could affect your final delivery schedule.

The costs and effort needed to find faults and fix them are also higher with underground systems. You can't see your cabling, so you will have to dig it up to find faults and make repairs. This can be a time-consuming and expensive process.

For more information, contact power installation contractors. They can help you choose the best way to get power to your new development.

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