On Friday, May 20, 2016 at 1:57:33 AM UTC-4, Micky wrote:
Here the statement should have skipped half of the first sentence and
been "Risk from surges () remains whether the AC service is overhead
or underground." That's all you are saying, but for some reason** you
want to say O vs. U doesn't matter, even though, if the risk is lower,
of course it matters.

No spin in that statement. Another has demonstrated why why surges can even enter a house from underground conductors or geology. He heard the arc of lightning current passing through his house. Ten second later, he heard the sound from that lightning entering earth some two miles distant.

How at risk are your household appliances? Geology is a major parameter. That current enters on overhead or underground conductors - wires or pipes. A nearby struck tree can be a surge current connected directly into household applies - if a properly earthed 'whole house' solution is not implemented.