Undergrounding power lines isn't a new concept. Thomas Edison used DC underground “street pipes” for his early distribution networks in the 1880s. One of its biggest hurdles isn’t new either: cost.
Undergrounding is common in cities due to space concerns, but suburban and rural areas more often see aboveground power lines. However, PG&E in California and Jersey Central Power & Light, among other utilities, are weighing the cost of undergrounding against the cost of more frequent outages and damages. Jeff Gavin looks at installation concerns and what to watch out for. “Going Underground” is on page 2.
With the growth of artificial intelligence and broadband, line contractors are noticing a need for more telecommunications technicians. Susan DeGrane explores a new apprenticeship program targeting people looking to fill this role. Read more about the new programs and how the Electrical Training Alliance is bringing training nationwide in “Skill Train” on page 12.
Gregg Voss takes us on a trip to Minnesota to tell us about Hooper Corp.’s transmission line rebuild from the South Bend Substation in Rapidan, Minn., southward to the Huntley substation in Winnebago. The team had to battle the cold Midwestern weather and a pesky water table during the project. Find “A Seriously Satisfying Renovation” on page 12. Seriously.
We also have our recurring columns to keep you safe. In Safety Briefing on page 10, Tom O’Connor does a live line accident review and discusses how we can prevent future accidents.
On page 14, Chuck Kelly’s Compliance column takes a look at the OSHA Cranes and Derricks in Construction Standard. It’s your guide when working with this equipment.
There is so much demand for more power thanks to artificial intelligence and data centers. Chuck Ross proposes gensets as a possible answer to the problem in the Utilities column on page 11. Be sure to check out the news section on page 5, Behind the Scenes on page 9 and The Tailboard on page 15. We aim to give you the best information we can.
We want to hear from you! Do you have an idea for an article? Did you work on a cool project? Tell us about it, and you just might see yourself in these pages. Email [email protected].
