1/3-1/2 of the cost of the electricity we pay is distribution.

Some of it is physical infrastructure (transformers, wire, poles), but a lot of it is labor.

Labor is expensive in US. It’s a lot of labor to do, plus they’ll likely need regulatory approval, buying out land, working through easements.

At the same time you have people screaming about how expensive energy is.

Furthermore they have higher priorities, replacing ancient aging infrastructure that’s crumbling and being put on higher load every day.