Plan to bury power lines advances

Bill passed by state Senate could lead to underground cables, but with a cost to residents

Florida legislators say they’re tired of getting calls from constituents every time their power goes out. That’s one reason many support legislation to bury power lines underground — even if it raises your electric bills.

The state Senate passed a bill Friday — SB 796 — that could lead to more underground power lines in Florida, with increased costs to consumers. The measure passed 37-2 with little debate.

The House version of the bill, HB 797, is headed to the floor for debate next week, after it unanimously passed a House committee.

Some legislators say they think burying power lines in Florida makes sense for protection of residents and businesses. But opponents, including AARP and the Florida Industrial Power Users Group, warn that electric bills will go up over the next 20 to 30 years if utilities are given what they call a “blank check” to bill customers.

Over the years, states including North Carolina and regions such as Washington, D.C., have floated plans to bury utility lines, but scaled back when faced with the prospect of soaring electric bills.

Florida utilities so far have been pursuing “targeted” undergrounding, or putting lines underground where it makes sense, says Ted Kury, director of energy studies at the University of Florida’s Public Utility Research Center. He isn’t aware of any state that has been able to bury nearly all power lines.

“What you want to avoid is spending all the money and then making things worse,” he said. Underground lines may be protected from high winds, flying trees or debris, but they’re also more susceptible to sudden rise in water level and flooding, he said.

“You’ve traded off one potential damage to the system for another potential damage to the system,” Kury said.

The House bill, like the one in the Senate, mandates that utilities draw up long-term hardening plans. But opponents say Florida Power & Light and other utilities are already