According to the National Park Service, humans are responsible for about 85 percent of all wildfires each year in the United States.
Additionally, the Annual 2022 Wildfires Report from the National Centers for Environmental Information revealed that over 7.5 million acres of wildland were consumed by fire that year. However, wildfires can also be sparked by other factors, such as unusually long bolts of hot lightning. Wildfires have increasingly become a major concern, particularly in regions prone to dry conditions and high winds. In response to these growing threats, XCEL Energy has unveiled a new wildfire mitigation plan, committing $1.9 billion to initiatives that prominently feature undergrounding technology. This strategy, supported by advanced utility mapping services like those provided by SiteMap® (patent pending), powered by GPRS, marks a significant advancement in protecting both infrastructure and communities.
What does this $1.9 billion plan entail? How does technology like GPR aid in undergrounding efforts? And how are initiatives like this reshaping our infrastructure across the nation?
XCEL Energy’s $1.9 Billion Wildfire Mitigation Plan
XCEL Energy, a leading utility provider, has recognized the critical need to adapt and upgrade its infrastructure to reduce wildfire risks. Their updated wildfire mitigation plan includes groundbreaking investments in undergrounding power lines, a strategy that significantly lowers the risk of wildfires caused by downed or damaged electrical equipment and helps protect utility lines during active wildfires. This strategic initiative responds to the devastating wildfires that have ravaged various regions, particularly in the Western United States, Texas, and Alaska.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center, Texas leads the country in the number of wildfires, while Alaska has the most acres burned. California, however, frequently experiences the largest, most destructive, and deadliest wildfires.
XCEL’s plan centers on relocating power lines underground in high-risk areas. This approach minimizes the chances of electrical faults igniting fires and enhances the reliability and resilience of the power grid. Undergrounding is a proactive measure that not only reduces the likelihood of wildfires but also helps preserve utilities during other natural disasters, such as storms, floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes.
Key elements of the XCEL plan include:
- Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Program: This program involves de-energizing parts of the transmission and distribution systems to prevent wildfire ignitions. XCEL Energy is also planning to offer energy support rebates for income-qualified and medically vulnerable residents.
- Enhanced Powerline Safety Settings (EPSS) Program: This initiative uses sectionalized protective devices to operate the system more conservatively under heightened wildfire risk conditions.
- Expanded Situational Awareness: XCEL Energy is increasing its expertise and adding new weather stations in high-risk areas, along with implementing AI-driven cameras.
The plan also includes system resiliency upgrades and the introduction of a new process for regular inspections.
The Role of Undergrounding in Wildfire Mitigation
Undergrounding power lines involves burying electrical infrastructure below ground, protecting it from environmental hazards like wind, lightning, and falling trees. In California, many neighborhoods built after 1950 already have underground power lines, making them largely immune to various adverse conditions.
Undergrounding offers several key benefits:
- Fire Prevention: By placing power lines underground, the risk of fires caused by electrical sparks is significantly reduced, especially in areas with dense vegetation and dry conditions.
- Increased Reliability: Underground power lines are far less vulnerable to weather-related disruptions, making them nearly immune to many conditions except for excess moisture from flooding. This results in fewer power outages and a more stable electricity supply, which is crucial during emergencies.
- Aesthetic and Environmental Benefits: Removing overhead lines enhances the visual appeal of landscapes and reduces the need for tree trimming and maintenance. Ever noticed how much cleaner a place looks without power lines?
- Long-Term Cost Efficiency: While the initial investment in undergrounding is substantial, it can prove more cost-effective over time due to lower maintenance and repair costs. According to the California Public Utilities Commission, the initial costs for undergrounding can range from $350 to $1,150 per foot, or $1.85 million to $6.072 million per mile. Although repairs can be more expensive, underground utilities are more durable and require less frequent maintenance, reducing long-term costs.
The benefits of underground utilities are so significant that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced a $34 million investment in 12 projects across 11 states. These funds aim to strengthen and modernize America’s aging power grid through the development of undergrounding technologies.
SiteMap® and GPRS: Leading Utility Mapping Services
To successfully implement undergrounding projects, accurate and comprehensive utility mapping is crucial. This is where advanced utility locating services like those provided by GPRS come into play. Companies like ours, along with platforms such as SiteMap®, deliver the technology and expertise needed to create detailed maps of existing underground utilities, ensuring safe and efficient project execution—all with the same trusted 99.8% accuracy that our clients depend on.
SiteMap®
SiteMap® excels in providing high-resolution mapping solutions that capture the precise locations of underground utilities. Their services include:
- Data Integration: SiteMap® integrates utility data into comprehensive, layered maps, allowing project managers and engineers to easily access and analyze the information.
- Interactive Maps: SiteMap® offers interactive underground utility maps that enable stakeholders to visualize and plan projects with greater accuracy.
SiteMap® also provides a variety of features:
- Secure cloud-based storage
- Ability to upload and store as-built drawings and site records
- Capability to import existing infrastructure data
- Options to attach videos, photos, GPR data, and other documents
- Access to GPRS data
GPRS
GPRS is a leader in utility locating and subsurface discovery services, offering a range of solutions to support undergrounding projects:
- Subsurface Scanning: GPRS uses GPR technology to locate and map underground utilities, ensuring that construction activities do not inadvertently damage existing infrastructure. GPRS also offers advanced services such as 3D Laser Scanning, Video Pipe Inspection, Leak Detection, Drone Imagery, and more.
- Utility Mapping: Our Mapping & Modeling Team can provide anything from simple GPS-enabled locating maps to highly detailed 2D CAD drawings and 3D BIM models, depending on your specific needs.
- Safety and Compliance: GPRS ensures that projects adhere to safety regulations and helps avoid costly utility strikes.
Is Utility Mapping Worth It?
The question, "Is utility mapping worth it?" is essential for any organization involved in underground construction. The answer is unequivocally yes. Accurate utility mapping is critical for several key reasons:
- Safety: Preventing accidents and damage to existing utilities is crucial for protecting both workers and the public.
- Cost Savings: Avoiding unexpected utility strikes minimizes costly repairs and prevents project delays.
- Efficiency: Detailed maps enable more precise planning and execution, which helps streamline project timelines.
- Regulatory Compliance: Accurate mapping ensures that projects comply with safety and environmental regulations.
Broader Impact of Undergrounding Technology
While XCEL Energy's wildfire mitigation plan is a significant step forward, the benefits of undergrounding technology and advanced utility mapping go well beyond wildfire prevention.
These technologies are transforming industries worldwide, including:
Telecommunications
- Enhanced Connectivity: Underground fiber optic cables provide more reliable internet and communication services, crucial for both urban and rural areas.
- Reduced Interference: Underground cables are less prone to interference, ensuring better signal quality and fewer outages.
- Reduced Tampering: While not excessively common everywhere, some metropolitan areas may find tampering to be a problem with certain utility lines. When underground, the lines become resistant to human interference, as well as animals, and nature.
Water and Sewer Systems
- Leak Detection: Advanced mapping helps identify leaks and weaknesses in underground pipes, facilitating timely repairs and reducing water loss. New undergrounding systems make it easier for utility locates to manage and inspect pipes for leaks, stopping them from becoming serious issues.
- Infrastructure Upgrades: Accurate maps support the planning and execution of upgrades to aging water and sewer systems.
Transportation
- Road and Rail Safety: Mapping underground utilities is essential for the construction and maintenance of roads and railways, preventing damage and ensuring safety.
- Smart Infrastructure: Integrating utility data with transportation systems supports the development of smart cities, enhancing traffic management and public services.
XCEL Energy's $1.9 billion wildfire mitigation plan, centered on undergrounding power lines, represents a forward-thinking, and revolutionary approach to addressing the increasing threat of wildfires, as well as other threats to our infrastructure system. XCEL Energy is not only enhancing the safety and reliability of its power grid but also setting a precedent for other utility providers.
Undergrounding requires utility mapping services, such as those provided by SiteMap® and GPRS. GPRS can provide the precise, comprehensive maps needed to execute undergrounding projects safely and efficiently. Looking beyond wildfire prevention, undergrounding technology, which is made possible by advanced utility mapping, is driving progress across multiple industries, from telecommunications to transportation. Go underground, it’s the cool thing to do.
Contact GPRS to learn more about our services, and how they can best serve your project, whether below or above ground.
