Precision Underground Program

We analyze multiple years of outage data to decide which overhead power line segments throughout our service area have had long or frequent outages that have accumulated the most repair time. As potential projects are identified, an LES project team will begin a comprehensive process to work cooperatively with landowners on a plan to underground portions of a line.

The PUP will focus on power distribution line segments within neighborhoods. The line segments selected will be based on outage data, such as which line segments have encountered long outages and accumulated the most repair time.

There are no direct construction costs for customers who are part of a PUP project. The project is funded by LES and is therefore included in our capital budget for infrastructure improvements. As a not-for-profit, locally owned public power utility, all budget items are paid for by LES customers through our normal customer rates.

LES reserves the right to decide whether to use LES crews or contractors on a project-by-project basis within the PUP. The LES project team is involved in all project selection, design, underground route and communication. LES often uses contractors for specific roles in a project, such as boring. Every project will have a dedicated LES point of contact who can provide details on specific projects.

The time needed will vary depending on project specifics. In many cases, PUP projects will be smaller than traditional construction projects, sometimes only covering a few blocks. Landowners will be advised of anticipated project timelines when a project is planned. 

Crews will work to minimize planned outages associated with the work. All impacted properties will be notified in advance of a scheduled outage.

LES is a national leader in reliability; however, outages can still occur. Underground power lines can experience power outages if lines are cut during digging or construction projects, or if cables fail over time. Underground power lines are still part of the electric grid and may connect to other overhead power lines that are exposed to weather, trees, animals and vehicle accidents.

The PUP is intended to reduce the number of outages customers experience. LES will work cooperatively with landowners to explain the program and construction process, and to obtain the routes necessary to perform the work. If an agreement cannot be reached to obtain necessary routes on privately owned property, LES will pursue projects in other neighborhoods.

The LES project team will meet with you to discuss the proposed plan and layout. Some equipment such as pedestals and pad-mounted transformers may be needed. Examples of equipment can be found in our Fence and Landscaping Installation Guide. 

Underground power lines come into ground-level pedestals and pad-mounted transformers from below, where connections are kept safely inside and out of view. In many cases, pedestals may already exist near the pole and will be reused. The location of each pad-mounted transformer is ultimately determined by the electrical load calculations and route of the underground power lines, but the LES project team will coordinate with landowners on the placement of new pad-mounted transformers.

Respecting and restoring property is our priority. We work with landowners during and after construction to minimize impact and inconvenience. No project is considered complete until your property is restored.

LES will work with all telecommunication utilities in the area to explore possibilities of placing their lines underground at the same time as our installation. While it is our desire for all telecommunication utilities to join us in going underground, each utility is responsible for moving its own lines. When the LES power lines are converted to underground, but the telecommunications utilities' lines are not, the poles may remain in place. If all utilities attached to a pole are converted to underground, the pole will be removed. If telecommunications lines are also converted to underground, they may need to install their own separate at-grade equipment within the project area on privately owned property.