Thursday, December 13, 2007; Posted: 10:58 p.m. (CDT)
How do we keep so many people from losing power in the future? It's a question many are asking. Some say the solution is to put power lines underground.
Glen Yaney, an Oklahoma City Resident, says, "The power lines need to go underground. All of these new developments, they're not without power right now."
Yaney has been without power since Sunday night.
"Very frustrating! I have no heat and no electricity. Of course, half a million others are too in Oklahoma City."
Crews are working around the clock to restore power. But in the meantime, it has some state officials thinking about the future of power lines.
Jeff Cloud is the Chairman of the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. He says, "After this episode is over, the Corporation Commission is just going to look long term to see if we can do things maybe a little better."
The Oklahoma Corporation Commission plans to conduct an in-depth analysis on moving more power lines underground.
Brian Alford, an OG&E Spokesperson, says, "Where we can move through situations like this to restore power quickly because we can see the problems. With underground, it's not as obvious."
Another huge disadvantage to underground power lines is they come with a hefty price tag.
"Estimates in excess of a million dollars per mile to come back and bury those lines," says Alford. "There's also a cost to the homeowner for a retrofit from overhead to underground. It's a several hundred dollar expense."
Yaney says, "Sure, I'd pay my share. Absolutely. It's needed and it's well overdue and this is a good example."
