Viral Video Shows Future of Underground Power Lines
A video of Bangkok undergrounding its overhead electrical cables has gone viral with over 30,000 likes, sparking discussion about cleaner and more resilient cityscapes. The project is being seen as a potential model for U.S. residential areas looking to address code, clutter, and storm-resilience issues.
The Bangkok project is a collaboration between the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and the Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) with the goal of burying 317.3 kilometers of overhead electrical and communication cables by 2032. This initiative is part of a larger national strategy to improve the city's landscape, enhance energy security, and boost economic competitiveness. As of early 2026, 97.3 kilometers of electrical cables have already been moved underground, with an additional 38.4 kilometers expected to be completed by the end of the year. The primary drivers for such projects are aesthetics and reliability. Overhead lines are vulnerable to damage from high winds, ice, and tree branches, which can lead to extended power outages. While underground lines are shielded from these weather-related events, they are more susceptible to flooding and earthquakes, and locating and repairing faults can be significantly more time-consuming and expensive than for overhead lines. Cost is the single largest barrier to widespread undergrounding. Constructing new underground transmission lines can be 4 to 14 times more expensive than installing overhead lines of the same voltage and distance. For residential distribution lines, the cost differential is still significant, with underground installation costing roughly 3 to 5 times more per foot than overhead construction. In the United States, underground power lines are standard in most new residential and commercial developments, often mandated by local ordinances for aesthetic reasons. Retrofitting existing overhead lines in established neighborhoods is a much slower process, typically funded over long periods. For example, Anaheim, California, is funding a 50-year conversion project through a 4% surcharge on electric bills. The decision to bury power lines involves a complex trade-off between the high initial capital investment and the long-term benefits of a more resilient and visually appealing grid. For rural electric cooperatives, the cost to convert existing overhead lines to underground can range from $1.1 million to as much as $6 million per mile. These substantial costs ultimately impact customer electricity rates, a key consideration for any utility provider and their contractors.
