Actually, I've seen plenty of people with cords running across the pavement to their cars from the house. Obviously run the risk of being sued for a trip hazard or someone unplugging it, but it's a bit of a stop gap.
Our neighborhood would periodically have 200 foot electric extension cables, running around yards and such to power the equipment. They would be in place for months before they eventually got new powerlines dug. Happened multiple times over the years, so it was quite common to see orange lions running all over the neighborhood.
One of the more impressive things I've seen with electricity is watching a transmission line into a local neighborhood turn orange and stretch to drape itself across a pickup truck parked in the wrong spot. Took a minute to realize what I'd just watched.
You know all of those substations where the high power transmissions lines get knocked down to distribution line voltage? Now imagine one of those with cars parked around the perimiter =)
I once worked in a building that had one of those power lines running next to it. Was curious if there was a measurable effect on a car parked under it in the parking lot. A multimeter found 600 volts between the car and ground.
A power company vehicle drives around the neighborhood, collecting the values, storing them and moves on.
Actually, most is collected now via Internet connected reception points typically installed on traffic lights and electrical poles strategically stationed near neighborhoods.
To your point: I was in HYD for a consulting gig a few years ago and it was ABSOLUTELY WILD seeing downed and probably hot power cables just lying there on the street waiting to fry some poor soul. They looked well-shielded but some of them were cut open!
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