SPOKANE, Wash. — Inland Power will spend $410 million over the next decade to bury 500 miles of existing overhead power lines underground in an effort to reduce wildfire risk and improve electrical service reliability for nearly 50,000 customers in the Spokane area.
The utility company says the project will cost about $41 million annually and represents the largest infrastructure investment in Inland Power’s history, though customers will likely see rate increases as a result.
“Once they’re underground, you don’t have to worry about squirrels getting on the lines as much. You don’t have to worry about vegetation hitting lines,” said Andy Barth from Inland Power…