According to research, which type of lines are more likely to experience outages due to trees?

3-phase lines are more likely to experience outages due to trees for several reasons. Firstly, 3-phase lines typically carry higher voltages and are found in more heavily populated and industrialized areas, where the likelihood of interaction with trees is greater. Additionally, since 3-phase systems consist of three conductors, they are more susceptible to outages caused by tree contact because if one conductor comes into contact with a tree or branch, it can lead to a cascading effect on the others.

Moreover, the branch density and leaf area of trees can significantly impact the stability of these high-capacity lines, making them more vulnerable to storm damage and other environmental factors. In contrast, single-phase lines usually serve less dense populations and are often positioned in areas with fewer obstructions. Underground lines, on the other hand, are generally protected from tree-related outages altogether, as they are buried below the surface.