Reliability-Oriented Underground Cable Planning in Power Distribution Networks: A Systematic Review of Modeling Approaches and Decision Factors

Reliability-oriented planning of power distribution networks is becoming increasingly important as utilities face aging infrastructure, extreme weather conditions and rising expectations for service reliability. Overlooking relevant factors in this planning process may contribute to power failures and their associated economic and service impacts. An evaluation of reliability-focused power distribution network design is provided in this systematic literature review by examining the principal modeling approaches used for planning underground and mixed overhead–underground cable configurations. The studies were chosen according to previously defined eligibility criteria and then screened for relevance to power distribution networks, to underground or hybrid line configurations and to reliability or planning. A literature search was carried out using Compendex and Google Scholar, with the final search completed in August 2026. The review incorporates insights from 79 included empirical and analytical studies and provides an overview of the related modeling approaches, methodological trends and the classification of commonly considered input and output variables relevant to underground cable planning and reliability improvement. The findings highlight the importance of considering environmental, network-design, operational and economic factors when developing sustainable, reliability-oriented distribution network planning strategies. The review may not capture relevant studies indexed only in databases other than those searched.