Knowledge is power: How Walton EMC replaces a utility pole

When a Walton EMC utility pole breaks due to a vehicle strike or weather-related causes, the repair is often more complex than it appears, says Matt Britt, Walton EMC line crew supervisor for Monroe.

Today’s power poles are commonly used for more than delivering electricity. Equipment owned by other utilities may be attached to the poles, making a replacement more complicated. Workers may also encounter a maze of buried utility cables and pipelines that create digging challenges.

“The majority of our power poles are not easily accessible. Accessibility dictates the pace and precautions involved in a pole changeout,” Britt said. The work is done methodically and safely, with many factors determining the time required to complete the repair.

HERE’S WHAT HAPPENS ONCE THE CO-OP IS NOTIFIED OF A BROKEN POLE:

ASSESSMENT. A two-man response team is dispatched to secure the site and assess the damage. When possible, they temporarily redirect power to those affected by the outage.

PREPARATION. Three to four other Walton EMC linemen are called to bring repair materials, a bucket truck and a digger truck. In compliance with law, an emergency notification is immediately entered into Georgia’s 811 center to alert all utilities in the area of an unplanned pole replacement. Utilities are required to respond within two hours of emergency notifications, after which legal digging can begin.

INSTALLATION. When all crew members are present and underground utilities identified:

1. Undamaged equipment is transferred from the broken pole to the replacement.
2. The buried part of the broken pole (about 6 feet in the ground) is removed with a hydraulic pole puller.
3. If needed, a new hole is dug before the pole is placed. Holes are hand dug when underground utilities are nearby.
4. Power lines are lifted and mounted on the new insulators. Once all is back in place, the power is restored.

“Whether it takes two hours or all day, you can be assured we’re not leaving until the lights are back on,” Britt said. “We take our commitment to reliability seriously.”