Michigan’s largest utility, Consumers Energy, says a pilot program to bury electric lines underground in areas with frequent, lengthy outages is going well.
Consumers Vice President of Electric Operations Chris Laird says while record-breaking severe weather blew through the state this year, data shows that areas included in the 9-mile pilot experienced fewer outages and improved overall system reliability compared to overhead-line service areas.
“We started our pilot in Genesee, Livingston, Allegan, Ottawa, Montcalm, and Iasco counties,” Laird said. “We use that based off reliability data areas that we’ve seen more significant outages. So we started in those areas.”
Laird says the pilot program targeted circuits that have frequent, lengthy outages and are in areas with dense trees.
Underground lines currently make up about 15 percent of all Consumers Energy electric lines, most being in subdivisions and areas with high population density.
Burying lines improves reliability by 90% or more. In the next 5 years, the company aims to bury over 1,000 miles of line.
