Option

Harden electric and utility infrastructure and increase system redundancy.

Details

Focus of action
Armoring, Harden, Retrofits, and Revetments
Option

Harden electric and utility infrastructure and increase system redundancy.

Focus of action
Armoring, Harden, Retrofits, and Revetments

Examples from plans

This option appears in resilience plans from around the country.

Option from plan Hazards Sort descending Assets Region Source Plan
Work with utility companies to address local impacts of power operations. Air Pollution Energy and Utilities Northeast (p. 72)
Provide cooling systems for municipal and county assets and equipment sensitive to overheating. Extreme Heat Critical Facilities Southwest Climate Resilient San Diego (p. 58 (pdf p. 64))
Build electricity grid resilience by increasing system capacity, increasing tension in lines to reduce sag and adding external coolers to transformers. Lines and transformers may overheat and trip off Extreme Heat Energy and Utilities InternationalNational AR5 Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability (p. Table 10-2 on page 669)
Consider burying electrical lines underground. Fire (Wildfire) Energy and Utilities Southeast Miami Forever Climate Ready Strategy
Encourage local utilities to upgrade infrastructure with fire-resistant materials and enhance fire protection and response equipment and capability at the utility plant. Fire (Wildfire) Critical FacilitiesEnergy and Utilities Northwest City of Seattle, WA: Preparing for a Changing Climate (p. 27 (pdf p. 60–61))
Encourage utility companies to raise electrical transformers onto gravel pads to protect them from inundation. Flooding – CoastalFlooding – GeneralFlooding – Rainfall-induced Energy and Utilities Climate Change in Port Heiden, AK (p. 43)
Identify steps to get the correct certifications on community-constructed electrical and plumbing systems. Shifting Species, Habitats, and Ecosystems Critical Facilities Climate Change in Port Heiden, AK (p. 46)
Encourage utility companies to harden energy infrastructure systems (e.g., poles, lines) against damage from climate-related effects and expand redundancy in the energy network. WindLandslidesMultiple or All HazardsSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire)Extreme HeatFlooding – CoastalFlooding – General Energy and Utilities Southwest Statewide Summary Report: California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment
Beyond strengthening existing systems, increase system redundancy to protect critical infrastructure from power outages. WindLandslidesMultiple or All HazardsSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire)Extreme HeatFlooding – CoastalFlooding – General Critical FacilitiesEnergy and UtilitiesMultiple or All Assets Northeast City of Baltimore Disaster Preparedness and Planning Project (p. 147)
Bury distribution lines to make them more resilient during hurricanes, severe winter weather and wildfires. WindSevere Winter WeatherFire (Wildfire) Energy and Utilities Southeast Triangle Region, NC Regional Resilience Assessment (p. 205 (pdf p. 217))
Encourage utility companies to harden electric grid systems (e.g., poles, lines) to withstand abnormally high wind conditions. Wind Energy and Utilities Southeast West Palm Beach, FL - Rethink Paradise: Sustainability Action Plan