Louisiana could be without power for weeks. Avoiding prolonged power outages will be very costly

Louisiana Faces Long-Term Power Outages, Prompting Costly Solutions

Just days after New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell announced that partial power restoration in parts of the city could commence as early as Wednesday, uncertainty loomed as to when the hardest-hit areas would regain power. Outside of the city, the situation could be even grimmer. St. Charles Parish officials warned residents west of New Orleans to prepare for at least a month-long power outage.

Entergy, the region's primary power provider, reported that certain areas of New Orleans East had been supplied with power, but broader reestablishment of service for a multitude of customers remained challenging.

"Due to the extensive damage to the system across the entire region, a significant portion of the redundancy in the power grid is limited," Entergy stated. "This complicates power transfer from the region to the customers and in the event of equipment failure or limitations in repair capabilities, further complicates the situation for power customers with additional damage to infrastructure."

Rapid Recovery Imperative

Designing a power grid capable of withstanding natural disasters is an impossible task, according to experts. They argue that widespread power outages are inevitable.

"We can always do more, but that's a Category 4 hurricane," said Michael Webber, energy professor at the University of Texas in Austin. "No one should be 100% reliable."

"If a Category 4 hurricane hits your state, regardless of your preparation, you're going to see massive power outages," said Daniel Cohan, professor of civil and environmental engineering at the Rice University in Houston. "But it's about resilience – how quickly you can get back on your feet and recover."

Louisiana officials stress the urgency of restoring power rapidly. The longer outages last, the more exorbitant the financial and personnel costs accrue, making it economical to invest money in rapidly returning the system to operational status.

"If it lasts a week, it's uncomfortable, but people can manage," said Webber. "If it lasts three to six weeks, it's a humanitarian crisis. That changes the equation."

The most severe example of a prolonged power outage induced by a storm occurred following Hurricane Maria in 2017, leaving parts of Puerto Rico without power for eleven months.

Is Deep Burial the Answer?

The immediate issue facing this storm was the collapse of masts carrying all high-voltage lines to New Orleans during the storm. Entergy is developing temporary systems to restore these lines. However, building new masts for high-voltage line transport might not be a sustainable solution.

Deep burial of power lines is costly but widespread in Europe. However, subsurface lines may be vulnerable to flood damage, although this risk can be managed – for instance, some power lines are laid across the seafloor. While not a solution for the entire country, experts urge the use of deep burial in high-risk hurricane zones.

Cohan also sees merit in burying power lines not only along the Gulf Coast and the "Hurricane Alley" along the southeastern US coast but also in western forests. In these regions, both the risk of damage from forest fires and fallen power lines exists, which could indirectly contribute to forest fires.

"It's not feasible to bury the entire system underground," said Cohan. "It's generally more expensive. Underground systems also have their own risks and challenges – locating problems can be more difficult." Burying things underground is not a silver bullet, but it's definitely something that high-risk priority areas should consider.

Both experts emphasized the importance of having alternative power solutions during disaster recovery, such as generators and battery storage systems, for critical facilities like hospitals and emergency shelters.

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To minimize the financial and operational costs associated with extended power outages, businesses may need to invest in backup power solutions, such as generators or battery storage systems. Further, in regions with a high hurricane risk, deep burial of power lines could be a viable long-term solution to mitigate the risk of widespread power outages. While costly, this method can minimize the damage caused by high winds, falling trees, and flooding – all common issues during hurricanes. However, the long-term cost-effectiveness of deep-buried power lines is a complex issue, and the feasibility must be carefully evaluated for each specific region.

Source:

Enrichment Data:

Deep burial of power lines can be an effective long-term solution for mitigating prolonged power outages in regions prone to hurricanes, but its cost-effectiveness is truly complex.

Effectiveness:

1. Reduced Outages: Deep burial of power lines can significantly decrease power outages caused by natural disasters such as hurricanes and storms. Sports utility lines are vulnerable to damage from high winds, falling trees, and flooding, often leading to costly and extended outages[2][4].
2. Safety: Undergrounding power lines reduces the risk of electrical injuries and electrocution deaths, making it a safer option for both utility workers and the general public[2][4].
3. Reliability: Buried lines are less susceptible to damage from natural hazards, leading to a more reliable service. For example, during Hurricane Milton, buried lines suffered less damage than above-ground lines, reducing outages[4].

Cost-Effectiveness:

1. High Initial Investment: The cost of deep burial of power lines is significantly higher compared to maintaining above-ground lines. The average cost for converting above-ground distribution lines to underground can range between $3.4 million and $6.1 million per mile, depending on the utility company and site conditions[1]. For transmission lines, the cost can range from $6 million to $33 million per mile[1].
2. Long-Term Benefits: Though the initial investment is high, deep burial of power lines can provide long-term benefits, such as reduced maintenance costs and fewer power outages. This can lead to cost savings over time, especially in areas hit frequently by natural disasters[2][4].
3. Technological Advancements: Emerging technologies, such as AI tools for calculating cable pulling and reducing the number of junction boxes, can help lower the cost of deep-burial projects. For instance, the PullAI solution promises significant cost savings by enhancing cable pulling calculations and requiring fewer junction boxes[5].

Conclusion:

Deep burial of power lines is an effective solution for mitigating prolonged power outages in areas vulnerable to hurricanes. While the initial investment is high, the long-term benefits, including reduced maintenance costs and improved reliability, make it a worthwhile investment. Emerging technologies can further enhance the cost-effectiveness of undergrounding projects. However, the high upfront costs must be balanced against potential long-term savings and benefits to determine the most cost-effective approach for a particular region.