Eltel signs a three-year agreement with Elenia to build underground cabling

Elenia will modernize its overhead line network by replacements with underground cabling. ”Most of the projects will consist of cabling and transformer stations. Finally the old overhead line will be removed”, tells Antti Ruohoniemi of Eltel. ”The difference here is that there will be no power outage for homes.”

The network will be modernized project by project, with flexible schedules. The plan is to do the works all year round, however taking into account the weather conditions.

Underground cabling is typically more expensive than installing overhead lines. Therefore there is a need to find faster and more cost efficient ways of executing the projects.

”Eltel has been active and established a specialized unit Eltel Build with focus on developing ever more efficient working methods. One such method is using a special machine that opens trenches, lays the cable and covers it with sand. The method is faster and less expensive. However this is not the only development Eltel is working at but there are also other new methods being tested”, concludes Kimmo Marjamäki, the new head of Eltel Build in Finland.

The need for underground cabling has been emphasized recently in Finland due to the stronger storms experienced and the damages caused to the supply of electricity.

More information:
Juha Luusua, President, Eltel Power Distribution
Tel. +358 40 311 3005, juha.luusua@eltelnetworks.com