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Evaluating Overhead vs Underground Transmission

Evaluating Overhead vs Underground Transmission

November 9, 2026 Online

Overview Agenda Instructor Credits
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As transmission expansion accelerates to support renewable integration, electrification, and rapidly growing loads like data centers, utilities and developers are increasingly challenged to determine whether new lines should be built overhead or underground. This decision is becoming more complex due to evolving technical constraints, permitting challenges, environmental considerations, and stakeholder expectations.

This course will provide a practical, project-focused approach to evaluating overhead versus underground transmission options. Attendees will gain insight into key cost drivers, routing and siting constraints, permitting consideration, and real-world project examples. Attendees will leave with practical insights to confidently evaluate the trade-offs between overhead and underground transmission options for their projects.

Learning Outcomes

  • Evaluate key factors influencing the decision between overhead and underground transmission, including technical, environmental, and regulatory constraints
  • Identify and compare major cost drivers, including installation methods, land use, and lifecycle maintenance considerations
  • Assess routing and siting challenges such as right-of-way limitations, urban density, and stakeholder impacts
  • Explore how permitting, environmental review, and community considerations affect project feasibility
  • Analyze real-world transmission projects to understand how overhead vs underground decisions are made in practice
  • Recognize how emerging trends are influencing transmission planning decisions

Register

Please Note: This event is being conducted entirely online. All attendees will connect and attend from their computer, one connection per purchase. For details please see our FAQ

If you are unable to attend at the scheduled date and time, we make recordings available to all attendees for 7 days after the event

REGISTER NOW FOR THIS EVENT:

Individual attendee(s)$ 995.00 each(early bird rate)
(price after October 30, 2026 is $ 1,095.00)
Volume pricing also available

Individual attendee tickets can be mixed with ticket packs for complete flexibility
Pack of 5 attendees$ 4,230.00 (15% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after October 30, 2026 is $ 4,655.00)
Pack of 10 attendees$ 7,960.00 (20% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after October 30, 2026 is $ 8,760.00)
Pack of 20 attendees$ 14,925.00 (25% discount)(early bird rate)
(price after October 30, 2026 is $ 16,425.00)

Your registration may be transferred to a member of your organization up to 24 hours in advance of the event. Cancellations must be received on or before October 09, 2026 in order to be refunded and will be subject to a US $195.00 processing fee per registrant. No refunds will be made after this date. Cancellations received after this date will create a credit of the tuition (less processing fee) good toward any other EUCI event. This credit will be good for six months from the cancellation date. In the event of non-attendance, all registration fees will be forfeited. In case of conference cancellation, EUCIs liability is limited to refund of the event registration fee only. For more information regarding administrative policies, such as complaints and refunds, please contact our offices at 303-770-8800

Agenda

Monday, November 9, 2026

Online

Log In

8:45 AM

Lunch Break

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Adjourn for the day

4:30 PM

8:45 AM - 8:55 AM

Log In

8:55 - 9:00 AM

Overview and Instructions

12:00 - 1:00 PM

Lunch Break

9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Course Timing

Key Technical Characteristics of Overhead vs Underground Transmission

This module will provide a brief technical overview of overhead and underground transmission systems to establish the key characteristics that influence planning and routing decisions. The following will be covered before digging into the decision modules in the rest of the course.

  • Efficient and safe power delivery
  • Basic parameters of OH lines:
    • Voltage class, insulating materials, type of structures (material, geometry, foundations), Right of Ways (ROW)
    • Type of wires and design considerations (power rating, grounding, clearances, sags, EMF, lightning protection, nearby airports and elevated highways)
    • Installation challenges (access roads, permits, vegetation, wire pulling, communication systems)
    • Environmental approach (wetlands, endangered species, type of vegetation control, induced voltage, corona effect etc.)
    • Maintenance and repair
  • Basic parameters of UG feeders:
    • Voltage class, insulating materials and type of UG cable systems (high-pressure fluid-filled, high-pressure gas-filled, solid dielectric, self-contained) and grounding scheme of UG cable systems (single-point, multi-points, cross-bonding or combination of them)
    • Type of installations (directly buried, in ducts, in tunnels, river-crossings) and design considerations (shorter lengths, traffic, clearances, special construction methods, power rating, grounding, EMF, fault current etc.)
    • Installation challenges (joint bays or splice vault’s location, relocation of others, cable pulling, protection from elevated EMF, induced and stray voltages, ground system, communication systems etc.)
    • Environmental approach (crossing schools, public parks, religious institutions, EMF mitigation, fault current path control)
    • Maintenance and repair

Industry Drivers Impacting the Overhead vs Underground Decision

  • Technical limitations that influence feasibility for each option (power rating, induced voltages, lightning rate etc.)
  • Constraints that affect transmission routing (ROW limitations, airports/highways, waterways, urban density, etc.)
  • Political (local community, future development, involvement of government officials, military involvement)
  • Environmental considerations and interaction with other utility/transportation owners (railroad, electric and gas utilities, DOT etc.)
  • Electrification policy and use of distributed renewable energy sources
  • Development of AI data centers (uninterrupted supply regardless of weather condition, difficulty to create new ROW)

Evaluating Overhead vs Underground Transmission Options

  • Major cost drivers (cost of land, installation methods such as trenching vs HDD, urban construction considerations, maintenance and repair implications)
  • Use of land (easements, construction roads, access roads)
  • Permitting and ROW process (nearby elevated highways, airports, waterways, lakes)
  • Technical aspects (available land scarcity, high rise construction, nearby chemical industries and airports, big open waterways crossings, substantial elevation differences, big shopping areas etc.)
  • Environmental aspects (weather dependencies, vegetation, access roads maintenance, local inhabitants, visual footprint etc.)
  • Public relations (political aspects, voice of residents)
  • Maintenance and repair strategy
  • Longevity of OH lines and UG feeders, and lifecycle economics
  • Ability to connect renewable energy sources and Bulk Energy System Storages
  • Case studies where underground option was evaluated and implemented
    • 500kV project in CA
    • 345kV project in Texas

Decision Framework and Strategic Considerations for Transmission Projects

  • Complex approach for fair comparison (structured framework for evaluating overhead vs underground options)
  • Land cost may or may not be included
  • Area development plans must be considered for each transmission project
  • Cost comparison shall include lifetime maintenance and repairs
  • Reliability and possible penalties in case of power interruption (data centers, other sensitive to power loss customers)
  • Effect of complex electrification (electric cars, electric boilers, heaters and home appliances)
  • Ongoing R&D on insulating materials, batteries and conductors

Instructor

Arie Makovoz

Transmission Line Engineering Manager

Con Edison

Arie Makovoz is a Transmission Line Engineering Department Manager for the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Inc. His responsibilities include underground transmission cable system designs, failure analyses and restoration procedures, standards updates, and support of transmission operations.

He is actively involved in the development and implementation of new technologies for underground transmission, some of which have already been successfully adopted by Consolidated Edison of New York.

Mr. Makovoz is active in many industry committees and served as Chair of the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies Cable Engineering Committee from 2017 to 2020. He has represented his company on CEATI’s Underground Transmission Committee and is engaged in several CIGRE working groups and IEEE PES ICC committees. Arie is author of numerous technical papers and publications.

He joined Con Edison of New York in 2003 and held various positions as an Engineer, Senior Engineer, Technical Expert and Department Manager in the Transmission Engineering Department. He holds a Master of Science degree in electrical engineering and is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York State

Continuing Education Credits

IACET

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EUCI is accredited by the International Accreditors for Continuing Education and Training (IACET) and offers IACET CEUs for its learning events that comply with the ANSI/IACET Continuing Education and Training Standard. IACET is recognized internationally as a standard development organization and accrediting body that promotes quality of continuing education and training.

EUCI is authorized by IACET to offer 0.7 CEUs for this event

Verify our IACET accreditation

Who recognizes IACET Credits?

Requirements for Successful Completion of Program

Participants must long on and be in attendance for the entirety of the course to be eligible for continuing education credit.

Instructional Methods

Power Point presentations, Q&A and open discussion.

CPE

Upon successful completion of this event, program participants interested in receiving CPE credits will receive a certificate of completion.

Course CPE Credits: 7.5
There is no prerequisite for this Course.
Program field of study: Specialized Knowledge
Program Level: Basic
Delivery Method: Group Internet Based
Advanced Preparation: None

CpeEUCI is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be submitted to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its web site: www.nasbaregistry.org

CLE

Only registered attendees can request CLE credits for an EUCI course/event. Please email [email protected] prior to the course start date and list the state where you are licensed and your bar# as well as the name and date of your course/event in your request, and someone will be in contact.

Who Should Attend

  • Transmission and interconnection engineers working at electric utilities and regional transmission organizations
  • Project developers and planners for renewable energy sources, data centers, large loads and interconnections
  • Utility and consulting professionals involved in transmission routing, siting, and permitting
  • Regulatory, policy, and market professionals evaluating transmission investment decisions
  • Engineering and consulting firms supporting transmission feasibility, cost analysis, and project development

This course may also be beneficial for graduate students and researchers, exploring electric power transmission industry.