Revitalizing BC Hydro's Aging Power Poles
VANCOUVER – BC Hydro is advising Surrey, Langley, Quesnel, Fort Nelson, Powell River, Kamloops, Dawson Creek and Pouce Coupe residents that crews will be out replacing power poles in their regions over the next several months. The work is part of BC Hydro’s ongoing maintenance program that will see the replacement of more than 8,500 distribution poles this year throughout the province to enhance public safety and strengthen the reliability of the electricity system.
“BC Hydro’s system includes 56,000 kilometres of distribution lines that require roughly 900,000 wooden poles to deliver electricity to homes and businesses,” said Greg Reimer, BC Hydro’s executive vice-president of Transmission & Distribution. “This program is one part of our commitment to reinvesting in our assets to ensure we continue to provide safe, reliable power to the communities we serve.”
Over time, wooden poles weaken due to weather conditions, insects, birds and wildlife. As a result, BC Hydro regularly inspects the old poles and invests in new poles to maintain the vast system.
Pole replacement typically will not require BC Hydro to disconnect power. Crews take special care during construction to avoid any unnecessary impacts to customers, however if outages need to be scheduled, BC Hydro will notify customers.
Crews will begin digging and setting poles in the communities listed above and the work should be complete by late September.
Facts about BC Hydro’s power poles
- BC Hydro has approximately 900,000 distribution poles on its electricity system.
- This year, BC Hydro will replace 8,500 poles across the province that have reached their end of life.
- More than 20 per cent of BC Hydro’s wooden poles are older than 40 years and reaching the end of life.
- Wooden power poles are manufactured by two B.C.-based companies.
- BC Hydro’s electricity system includes 18,000 kilometres of transmission lines, 56,000 kilometres of distribution lines – almost enough to circle the globe twice – and more than 260 substations, serving almost 1.9 million customers.
-30-
For more information please contact:
BC Hydro Media Relations
Direct: 604 928 6468
Web: www.bchydro.com/media