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going to be more expensive.”
Mr. Saufley added that maintenance of underground lines is a bit less, “but not much.”
Mr. Jackson, the utility’s engineer, said that, contrary to popular belief, there are maintenance prob^ lems with buried lines, and the re~ pair costs are “astronomical, ten times the cost to replace an overhead line.”
Councilman Skowronski said he finds it “curious” that Virginia Power’s rates to bury lines in Warrenton are "one-tenth” of Potomac Edison’s charge.
That may be true, Mr. Saufley acknowledged, “but our rates are lower per month.”
Mr. Reynolds pointed out that “it’s true, is it not, that Potomac Edison installs underground lines by law in other areas. Is there a different cost between subdivisions and single-family dwellings?”
Mr. Jackson said that all new construction in Maryland must be served by underground utilities. The costs are spread differently, he said, principally to the developer.
Jim Thomasson asked if the cost of the underground installation could be spread over time.
No, Mr. Saufley replied. The utility is willing to split up the costs, but one-third of the project cost would be due before work begins, one-third when the job is half completed, and the balance due upon completion.
The cost estimate from the utility, Mavor Morehouse added, is $660,000.
“How do you amortize equipment costs now?” asked Dr. Krebser.
“We borrow,” Mr. Saufley replied.
“Oh, so you borrow,” Dr. Krebser shot back. “That’s what we want to do. In Europe it’s been done for 50 years.”
Ms. Day expressed her frustration over the utility’s resistance to change. “The way they transmit electricity is the same since electricity was discovered. I wish they would take some of their advertising money and spend it on development.”
‘That’s to the point,” Dr. Krebser added. “The utilities don’t want to change. They need a little forcible pressure.”
“Given the costs we’ve been quoted,” Mayor Morehouse said, “it’s not feasible for us to do improvements at this time. Our position is that we would like your
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