The long, dark wait (Va. ~9,000 utility poles down "catastrophic")

[underpants]

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031771208578

Virginians weary of scavenging for ice, food and gas since Hurricane Isabel struck a week ago should prepare for more of the same.

The utility found that it had far more work than had been estimated - about 9,000 broken utility poles, not 2,311 as originally thought, and 15,000 pole cross-arms, more than triple earlier estimates. Wires were on the ground along 418 miles of Virginia Power's system.

"The damage is simply catastrophic," said Cimino.

Isabel's ravages, stretching from North Carolina to Northern Virginia and from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Chesapeake Bay, are now estimated at $625 million, including $174 million in damages to the public sector.

Utility crews from Pennsylvania, Michigan and Quebec pitched in, swelling Virginia Power's work force to 11,600.

[spinbaby]

1. Good argument for underground utilities

n/t

[Throckmorton]

6. It really is a cost benefit issue,

Underground utilities cost about 5 time the amount that above ground utilities cost per circuit mile. They generally require much less maintenance once installed; however, their outage restoration time is on the order of 7 times longer than overhead lines when the do fail. The EPRI has good data on this, but the web site requires membership. In general, underground feeder circuits never overcome the initial cost of installation, even with the occasional catastrophy figured in. Flooding, and the resultant scour, often cause major damage to underground utilities in Hurricanes.

It is interesting that most european communities of any size have underground utilities, paid for by electric fees.

My local town requires that all new subdivisions have underground utilities, which adds to the cost of lots somewhat, but greatly reduces the vunerablity of the lines to damage. It also eliminates tree triming and electrocuted kite flyers.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

7. Europe values the aesthetic appeal as well

Britain's had them hidden well from view for years.

[underpants]

8. NPR had a piece on this earlier in the week

They sated (from memory here) that when installed underground in NEW developments/cites (as the Europeans were able to do after WWII) it is about twice as costly. They also cited the problems with detecting problems in underground wiring as opposed to aboveground and how susceptible underground wiring is to flooding and corrosion.

Charlotte NC (I believe it was) looked into adding a $3 surcharge per month per account and found that is would take 319 years to complete at that rate.

[Zhade]

12. Better argument for decentralized, home-based alternative energy sources!

NT!

[kayell]

2. There was in additional pile of rain following Isabel

just to make the situation more miserable. My parents in NVA said they got 6.5 inches in 8 hours Weds night, that the local creek was 12.5 feet over flood stage, closed the highway near them, and the Monocacy river over in MD was 24 ft. over flood stage.

[underpants]

3. I think about 40,000 lost power again after the tornado (s)

Yeah it passed right over our apartment we dodged another bullet.

[donsu]

4. 9000 poles down!! good grief

I'm sure they didn't have 9000 stockpiled. just getting new poles must be a nighmare.

[underpants]

5. 3 times what they initially thought

Yeah it's that bad.

[sleipnir]

9. Can you say "Rate Increase"?

Sorry guys out there, but look out for a major rate increase comming your way in the next few months. Who do you think is going to pay for most of the construction? Certainly not our fine government, no, they still can't even power Baghdad. Not to mention, FEMA is nearly broke. The power company's insurance won't cover overtime labor, just physical assests.

[Beetwasher]

10. It would be nice if they had the NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP

Wouldn't it?

[underpants]

11. I think they already served their two weeks a year

so they can't be called up.