In North America, why do we not bury utility lines in cities and towns like they do in Europe?
The practice of burying powerlines underground is more common in European countries than it is in North America. The main reason for this is the different climate conditions between these regions.

North American winters are much colder than those encountered in most European countries. This means that during winter months, when temperatures frequently fall below freezing, buried electrical cables can become exposed to moisture and ice, which can lead to insulation failures or even complete failure of the cable system.

To address this issue, many North American utilities use above-ground powerlines instead of buried ones. These powerlines are protected from snow and ice by a thick layer of insulating foam, and are typically designed to last longer than their buried counterparts. However, above-ground powerlines may also be subject to environmental damage, such as vandalism or natural disasters, which can result in downtime or other issues.

In contrast, European cities and towns generally have milder climates, making underground burying of electrical cables less necessary. Instead, many European utilities prefer to invest in energy-efficient buildings and infrastructure, as well as smart grid technologies, which can help reduce overall energy consumption and improve reliability. However, as technology improves, there may still be room for improvement in North American cities and towns, where buried powerlines continue to play an important role in providing reliable electricity access to residents.