Utilities in northern Michigan are turning to underground power lines to reduce outages caused by severe weather. The shift follows a major ice storm in March 2025 that left thousands without electricity for weeks.
Great Lakes Energy announced plans to bury all new power lines after the storm caused more than 66,000 outages and $150 million in damages across its service area. The policy aims to improve long-term reliability for its members in 26 northern counties, even though costs will be three to five times higher than overhead lines.