SaskPower will be heading into the summer season evaluating wooden power poles for decay or structural faults. The annual undertaken is under way in some parts of the province. In Humboldt, the process will go from July through October.
In a release, SaskPower notes that it has over 1.2 million power poles in our province. This work helps extend the life of the poles from 30 to 35 years to more than 60 years. It’s a money saver as well, given that each inspection costs about $50 while replacing a pole is in the neighbourhood of $3000. The work also increases safety for our employees and customers and help continue to provide reliable power across the province
During the year campaign, crews will inspect around 97,000 power poles, looking for decay, damage and carpenter ant infestation. Crews will also replace poles that can’t be repaired or reinforced, rebuild or replace crossarms where needed, inspect guy wires (cables that add stability to poles), inspect grounding of rural overhead transformers, and install wildfire protection in certain areas.
SaskPower intends to stay within the right-of-way as much as possible. Where necessary, crews may need access to private property to perform the work. If this happens, crews are certain to be respectful of surroundings. No power outages will be required to complete this work.
The estimated cost of the wood pole testing and treatment scheduled for this year is $6.6 million. For more information on the program, click here.