Electric Department continues change to underground conversion

Sidney Electric Department continues to convert the city of Sidney to underground power lines, planning to bury around 50,000 feet of electric lines within the next three to five years.

Electric Superintendent Mike Palmer said, the conversion began in early 2008, with south side of town finished around 2011.

Palmer said the overhead lines were becoming less useful, and it was time to replace them.

“It is also aesthetics,” said Palmer, “and the underground lines, are less susceptible to storm damage and outages.”

After completion of the south side the project set it sights to the down town area...