Utility Pole Maintenance

At first glance, you might be inclined to think someone is vandalizing Novato's utility poles. After a closer look, I learned Pacific Gas and Electric has contracted with Utility Pole Technologies, Inc. to inspect their wooden utility poles throughout Novato. This inspection to look for wood rot and decay is mandated once every ten years. 

Teams of workers from Utility Pole Technologies, Inc. will inspect thousands of poles in Novato in just three weeks.

Each team is very organized and each person has set job, so the inspection of each pole takes just a few minutes.

First the workers dig twenty one inches deep around each pole begins. Next, a worker drills several holes with a 7/8" auger, so a probe can be inserted into the pole to detect rot or decay. Plastic caps are placed over each hole created.

The base of the pole is treated with a liquid, wrapped in paper and then the dirt is cleaned up to refill the hole.

Once the inspection is complete, the pole receives a shiny, new inspection tag with the date and inspection company's name.

If a pole does not pass the inspection, the company records the location of each pole that will need to be replaced.