Wood pole purchasing, inspection, and maintenance: A survey of utility practices

Deregulation and consolidations have changed the operating environment for electric utilities in the United States. One important aspect of this change that may be overlooked is how utilities manage one of their most important assets: the wood poles that support their electric transmission and distribution system. The purchasing, inspection, and maintenance practices related to wood use by 261 North American utilities were surveyed. The results were compared with a similar, but less intensive survey performed in 1983. The survey showed that most utility practices were unchanged from those found in 1983, but that many utilities were exploring alternative pole materials. Utilities also appeared to have some misconceptions concerning pole service life, a factor that could influence the selection of alternative materials. The survey also showed that those charged with specifying and maintaining wood poles come to their jobs with little formal training in wood as a material. These results suggest the need for more continuing education offerings to better educate utilities concerning how to best manage their wood pole systems for maximum value.