PECO To Inspect 39,000 Utility Poles, Including Lower Providence

PHILADELPHIA, PA -- PECO will inspect more than 39,000 utility poles throughout Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties this year as part of the company’s commitment to deliver safe, reliable, affordable and clean energy services for customers, they announced in a press release.

Part of $2.2 million in preventive maintenance work, the inspections will continue through the spring.

Inspections include a visual examination of poles and the electrical equipment attached, taking samples from the interior of poles and excavating around the base to check for decay. Any necessary repairs and replacements would then be performed. PECO maintains more than 390,000 poles across the region and each pole is inspected every 10 years in accordance with the National Electric Safety Code, benefitting the company’s more than 1.6 million electric customers.

“Continuous inspection, repair and replacement of equipment on our electric system is critical to ensuring safe and reliable service for our customers,” John McDonald, vice president of Technical Services, said in a statement. “Preventive maintenance programs help reduce the frequency and duration of outages, and improve the performance of our entire system, keeping our customers and crews safe.”

Poles in the following communities, townships, and boroughs will be inspected this year:

• Bucks: Bristol Township, Chalfont Borough, Fairless Hills, Falls Township, Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor, Levittown, Morrisville Borough, Lower Makefield Township, Lower Southampton Township, Middletown Township, Morrisville Borough, New Britain Borough, Northhampton Township, Penndel Borough, Warrington Township.

• Chester: Charlestown Township, Phoenixville Borough, Schuylkill Township, Tredyffrin Township, Valley Forge.

• Delaware: Broomall, Haverford Township, Lansdowne Borough, Marple Township, Newtown Township, Springfield Township, Upper Darby Township.

• Montgomery: Hatfield Township, Lower Providence Township, Montgomery Township, Upper Providence Township.

Each year, PECO invests more than $500 million to enhance the company’s electric system.

This program is part of the company’s overall preventive maintenance program which also includes regular inspection of equipment, including manholes, aerial wires and underground cables, transformers and substations.