The Long Island Power Authority and some South Fork activists are poles apart when it comes to upgrading the area's electrical supply system.

In an effort to meet the rapidly increasing energy demands there, LIPA is proposing to upgrade an 8.5-mile section of transmission lines between the rural farmland substations of Southampton and Bridgehampton.

After doing a final environmental review of the project, LIPA officials determined on Feb. 26 they would put 55% of the new lines underground, and 45% above ground on the traditional poles.

But area residents complain the proposed poles will detract from the scenic beauty of the area and diminish the value of their property because they will be increased from the current 35 feet to 48 feet high to accommodate the increased voltage.

"We want to protect our environment and eliminate nearly 4 miles of massive poles on the scenic back roads of the South Fork by burying 100% of these cables," said Steve Abramson, chairman of the Committee For a Green South Fork.

"During the last year, in both meetings and correspondence, residents have detailed their objections to LIPA, and have joined the town officials in asking that these poles be buried underground."

Ann LaWall, who lives along the proposed transmission line, said if LIPA's plan goes through, she would have three poles in front of her house.

"My property value will go down 25%, according to local Realtors," she said. "As a community, our Southampton residents have spent over $2 million to preserve open space, and these poles will change the character of our rural neighborhood."

Ed Dumas, a spokesman for LIPA, said the company is in an energy crunch because of surging load growth on the South Fork, which now averages 5.2% a year, while the rest of Long island averages a load growth of only 1.7% a year.

"This is the only part of our service that's growing at such a rate because the East End still has the land for growth, and because of the building of all these high-energy mansions," he said.

Dumas said LIPA is doing everything it can to bring the needed power to this area and satisfy the needs of the residents.

"Our preferred method is overhead lines because they're cheaper and easier to maintain, and for this reason, 80% of our network is above ground, to our 1.1 million customers in Nassau, Suffolk and a part of Queens," he said. "But we said because of the unique character of this Southampton farmland area, we'd agree to bury about half" the cables.

Dumas said if the entire 8.5-mile transmission line section was done overhead, it would cost $10 million. Burying half the lines would cost $20 million, which LIPA "would be permitted to absorb, based on our environmental review," he said.

"But to bury the whole project would cost $30 million, and we would not be permitted to pay for the extra $10million," he said.

After numerous residents and civic groups said they'd agree to pay the difference, the Southampton Town Board passed a resolution on Feb. 22 to accept a surcharge of $3.70 per month - or $44 per year - based upon average household use.

Owners of large houses would pay more, and owners of smaller ones would pay less. Certain areas of Southampton Town, including the Shinnecock Indian Reservation, would be exempt.

But Dumas said LIPA would only agree to do this if the Town of Southampton would guarantee to pay the difference in case the courts find this illegal, or if they are unable to collect this money from the residents in the future.

"The Town of Southampton has told us they're not able to make this guarantee of indemnification, so in the meantime, we're going ahead with our plan to put in our new transmission line," said Dumas.