On Tue, 15 Mar 2016 22:12:46 -0000, "Mr Macaw" wrote:


Underground it lasts forever. Or as long as the outer plastic takes to rot.

Actually FPL has done tests that show a wire, a meter down can be
destroyed by lightning and we get a lot of lightning.

And you think a wire in the air is safer?!?

If it is hit, actually it is. The dirt/sand around a buried conductor
can cause physical damage. Underground hits are pretty rare tho.
Overhead hits happen a lot but it usually just blows a fuse.
Occasionally a transformer can explode tho.