Practices for Cable Pulling and Strategic and Urban Undergrounding

Undergrounding is no longer a niche construction strategy — it is becoming a defining feature of modern electric power systems. Utilities across North America are accelerating strategic undergrounding programs to improve reliability, strengthen resilience against extreme weather and wildfires, and reduce public safety risks. At the same time, urban undergrounding continues to intensify as cities grow denser, rights-of-way shrink, and subsurface corridors become increasingly congested.

The three stories included in this e-Book underscore a central theme: undergrounding success depends on integration. Drilling methods, robotic technologies, and cable pulling strategies must be evaluated not as isolated tasks, but as interdependent components of a system-level design approach. As utilities modernize their grids to support higher loads and more demanding operating environments, installation practices are evolving into strategic engineering decisions.

The future of underground infrastructure will be shaped not only by where we bury cable — but by how intentionally we design, install, and manage it from the outset.