Dallas man electrocuted trying to steal copper

Houston Chronicle ^ | 7-17-06

[be4everfree]

I knew I'd find a place for this photo

[Onelifetogive]

I can't remember the article I read but it referred that the increase in copper price is from the increased production of hybrid cars.

That CAN'T be right. Copper is mined by the shipload all over the world. The demand for copper is driven by the industrialization of China (and the rest of the Far East), not by a few tens of thousands of cars.

[aculeus]

Police have blamed a rise in copper prices for increased theft of the metal.

It's just premature recycling.

[traditional1]

"But if it were a new house ?......

"ALL new service whether overhead or underground is now aluminum. Most wires carrying the high voltage (distribution primary wires) on the poles on the street will be aluminum in new construction. SOME older distribution wires in non-urban areas is copper, but it is nearly all replaced with aluminum now.

Even substation transformers in a lot of cases are wound with aluminum instead of good ol' copper, simply because of the cost of copper vs. aluminum.

Aluminum is not as "conductive" as copper for sure, but it sure is cheaper, lighter, and isn't stolen.

I recall back in the 70's or so when aluminum prices spiked, and homes in the area had aluminum siding stolen at night by vandals who were headed to the scrap yard with it.