Get Overhead To Underground Preliminary Site Sketch Form

Xcel Energy will bury the wire from the utility pole to your meter.

Overhead lines are air cooled and widely spaced for safety. Underground cables are installed in concrete encased PVC duct banks. Heat generated by the cables is dissipated through the earth to the surface. Buried transmission lines have more environmental impacts than those overhead.

The process of moving overhead electrical lines underground is a challenging, complex effort that can take several months or, in some cases, over a year from start to finish.

The average cost to run power underground is $10 to $25 per foot, or $5,000 to $12,500 for 500' of new electrical lines. Overhead power line installation costs $5 to $15 per foot, or $4,000 to $7,500 for 500'. The cost to bury existing power lines is $2,000 to $6,000.

Underground systems are protected from strong winds and falling trees. They also look better aesthetically. However, buried lines are susceptible to water and excavation damage, and can take longer to repair because the damaged area is usually more difficult to locate.

Converting from an overhead to an underground system means basically abandoning an existing working grid system. The logistics of converting an existing grid system in an established neighborhood can be considerably more expensive and disruptive to personal property and surroundings than, for example, building new.