dispense with one of these splices. Less risk of a neutral-only break from tree or vehicle damage, increasing safety with TNC-s systems. Significantly improved safety for linespersons, particularly when working on live conductors. Electricity theft is made harder, and more obvious to detect. Less required maintenance and necessary inspections of lines. Improved reliability in comparison with both bare conductor overhead systems and underground systems. Insulated conductors prevent accidental contact and supply can be maintained temporarily in the event of a suspension system collapse. Disadvantages Additional cost for the cable itself. Insulation degrades due to sun exposure, though the critical insulation between the wires is somewhat shielded from the sun. Shorter spans and more poles due to increased weight. Can lead to much longer repair times for installations in hilly areas due to much higher line weights requiring bigger and more specialized equipment to repair. Older installations are known to cause fires in areas where falling large trees or branches regularly cause breaks in lines and or in insulation leading to short circuits which can then lead to burning insulation dripping to ground and starting ground fires. Failure modes through punctures, electrical tracking, and erosion. International usage Australia ABC have been introduced into Australian power systems progressively since 1983. This was partly in response to bushfires sparked by old wires touching. In some bushfire prone areas though, older ABC installations are now creating fires, particularly at points where the cables have damaged or been degraded over time. In the Dandenong Ranges area Victoria 2014. Medium voltage (11-22 kV) ABC is being replaced with underground cable due to high failure rates of HV ABC, with life expectancy of just 10 years, when original life was expected to be approx 30 years. Due to degraded cable, cost of repairs & maintenance and bushfire risk. Ireland Low voltage ABC lines were first installed on the rural Irish distribution networks in 1981. It is not known where ABC was first installed. Pakistan K-Electric first introduced ABC, in Gulshan-e-Iqbal area of Karachi city with a pilot project was completed in march 2014. Following 90% theft loss reduction, the decision to roll out the new cabling across the entire K-Electric distribution network of Karachi. Sri Lanka Low voltage ABC lines are installed in urban distribution systems commonly. See also Utility pole References External links Nexans Order Continental Cables Spec PE and XLPE Insulted Ariel Bundle Cables The