Dominion Energy cuts storm outages in Virginia with 2,500 miles of buried lines
(UI) — Dominion Energy Virginia has completed the burial of over 2,500 miles of its most outage-prone power lines as hurricane season begins, a move the utility says has significantly reduced storm-related power outages and restoration times for customers.
The effort is part of Dominion’s Strategic Underground Program, launched in 2014 to address frequent outages caused by fallen trees—the leading cause of power interruptions in the state. The company plans to continue burying additional lines in high-risk areas over the coming years.
According to Dominion, customers served by buried lines have seen average outage times fall from 11 hours to just 2 minutes. Fewer outages in these zones also allow crews to restore service faster for other customers during major storms, such as hurricanes and tropical systems.
“We’re focused on delivering more value for our customers every day,” said Ed Baine, president of utility operations for Dominion Energy Virginia. “It’s personal for us because we know power is important for everything in our customers’ daily lives. They’re experiencing fewer storm-related outages, and their power is being restored sooner.”
In addition to undergrounding efforts, Dominion’s Mainfeeder Hardening program is replacing aging poles and cross arms across the system. So far, more than 8,000 poles and 9,500 cross arms have been upgraded along 265 miles of line. The utility aims to reach 1,000 miles of hardened lines by 2030. These upgrades have helped reduce outage durations for affected customers by 30%.
With the Atlantic hurricane season running from June through November and forecasts calling for an active year, Dominion Energy is encouraging customers to prepare. Tips include charging devices ahead of storms, servicing generators, and stocking up on essential supplies.
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