You might want to consider the cost to ratepayers. Here’s a report on recent estimates to do just what you’re suggesting:
http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20111106/NEWS02/711069975
Since all these estimates for public works projects ALWAYS end up being on the low side, let me ask you this: If you were offered to have your lines buried, would you put, oh, $75K+ where your mouth is? Would your neighbors? Because it’s an “all or nothing” proposition.
Yea, I thought not. Americans are too goddamn cheap to buy consumer products under $20 that were made in the US, preferring some piece of crap made in China, and you’re going to tell me with a straight face that your neighbors are going to pony up 50+ large to bury their power lines?
And then let’s assume you put only the local distribution underground - you still have higher voltage regional transmission lines to put underground, otherwise you end up with power outages from upstream failures. OK, so what’s involved in burying higher voltage transmission lines?
Furthermore, if you think repairing above-ground transmission lines is expensive... heh. If you’ve not seen the complexity of repairing a below-ground transmission line, then you might want to check into it before hopping on the “bury the lines” bandwagon.
As for cost, the PUC determines amortization of the cost over its life time, it is not billed as a surcharge. And give it a rest on the constant rant about union wages and feather bedding. You come out and do what we do and tell me my men are overpaid, they make a good living and work damn hard for it.