Households' willingness to pay for overhead-to-underground conversion of electricity distribution networks

Underground low-voltage electricity networks have several advantages over overhead networks including reliability of supply, safety and improved visual amenity. The economic viability of replacing existing overhead networks with new underground networks depends on the value of these benefits to households, but no complete value estimates are available in the literature. This paper represents a contribution towards addressing this research gap. A stated choice survey is used to estimate willingness to pay for undergrounding in established residential areas in Canberra, Australia. Average willingness to pay is at least A$6838 per household and there is significant variation in preferences over the population. The results suggest that benefits would be highest in areas with higher household income and older residents where visual amenity, safety, tree trimming, or restrictions on the use of yard space are of concern.

Research highlights
► A choice experiment is used to estimate values for undergrounding electricity wires.
► Average willingness to pay is at least A$6838 per household in Canberra, Australia.
► Preferences vary considerably over the population.
► Benefits would be highest in areas with higher income and older residents.