Dive Summary:

• Hurricane Sandy’s record blackouts and prolonged recovery exposed the vulnerability of the United States’ electrical grid to the dangers of wind and flood.
• The devastation has led consumers and lawmakers to question whether utilities should be spending more money to protect the grid ahead of advancing winter storms.
• One of the most commonly suggested measures is to move power liens underground, which can cost as much as $2.1 million per mile in a major city.

From the article:

Super storm Sandy's record blackouts and prolonged recovery laid bare the U.S. electrical grid's vulnerability to wind and flood, renewing calls for utilities to invest billions to toughen their defenses against extreme weather that may become more common. ...