Resilient – built to withstand storms, outages, and the challenges of tomorrow.
By The Watertown Post
Watertown once called itself “The City of the Future.” It’s time we started acting like it again. One of the simplest, smartest, and most transformative moves our city could make is to put our powerlines underground.
Those wires crisscrossing every street—dangling over intersections like a steel spiderweb—are a relic of the past. Landlines are nearly obsolete, and hardly anyone uses cable anymore. Why are we still stringing up powerlines like it’s 1925?
Here’s why burying them is not just cosmetic—it’s essential for the future of Watertown.
1. Safer and More Reliable During Weather Events
Northern New York winters are brutal. Ice storms, heavy winds, and falling tree limbs are the leading causes of power outages in our region. Underground powerlines are far less likely to be damaged during storms, which means fewer outages, faster recovery after bad weather, and safer streets when emergency services need to get through.
2. Long-Term Cost Savings
Yes, burying powerlines is an upfront investment—but it saves money in the long run. Every year, National Grid and the city spend thousands on emergency repairs, overtime for linemen, and replacing poles and transformers damaged by storms. Underground systems require far less maintenance once installed.
3. Better for Business and Economic Growth
A cleaner, wire-free skyline attracts new businesses, developers, and tourism. Imagine downtown streets where people can take pictures of Watertown’s historic brick architecture without powerlines cutting across every shot. Our buildings—many over a century old—deserve to be seen in their full glory. A better-looking city draws visitors, investors, and young professionals who want to live and work in a modern, forward-thinking community.
4. A Psychological Boost for Residents
It’s not just about aesthetics—it’s about pride. A city without cluttered wires feels cleaner, more organized, and more future-focused. Imagine driving down Washington Street or Arsenal Street and seeing open sky instead of a tangle of cables. That kind of visual improvement changes how people feel about their city—it makes us feel like we live in a place that’s moving forward, not stuck in the past.
5. Safety Improvements
Fewer poles and wires mean fewer car accidents involving utility poles and less danger from live wires during storms. Underground systems also reduce fire risks caused by sparking powerlines.
6. Modern Infrastructure Grants Are Available
The city doesn’t have to shoulder the entire cost alone. Federal and state infrastructure grants are actively funding modernization projects like this—especially when they are tied to weather resilience, public safety, and economic revitalization. Watertown should be aggressively pursuing these funds.
7. Future-Proofing for the Next 50 Years
We are entering an age of electric vehicles, solar integration, and smart grid technology. Underground power systems are more adaptable to these modern technologies than old pole-and-wire setups. If Watertown wants to be a real “City of the Future,” we need to start building the infrastructure for that future now.
Time to Lead Again
Watertown was once a city people admired for its innovation. Why can’t we be that again? Every time a photographer has to angle a shot to avoid wires, every time a storm knocks out half the city’s power, and every time a visitor sees the mess of lines hanging over our streets, it sends the same message: we’re stuck in the past.
It’s time to change that. Bury the powerlines. Clean up our skyline. Restore pride in our city.
Watertown can once again be The City of the Future—but only if we’re willing to build it.
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