ZVEI survey: German population clearly in favor of underground cables and against overhead lines when it comes to extra-high-voltage grid expansion

A Civey survey commissioned by the ZVEI shows that the current debate on the suspension of underground cable priority has hardly any support among the population. The opposite is the case: underground cables for the expansion of the extra-high-voltage grid meet with a significantly higher level of acceptance across Germany than overhead lines. Around 70 percent of respondents prefer the installation of underground cables to the construction of overhead lines. "This result clearly shows that the current debate on the expansion of the electricity transmission grid is bypassing the majority of the population and not taking their opinions into account," states Wolfgang Weber, Chairman of the ZVEI Board of Directors. Even if overhead lines were the more cost-effective alternative, 80% of those in favor of underground cables remain in favor of underground cables.