BC Hydro crews will be replacing 565 power poles in North Vancouver over the next several months.
According to a press release, the work is part of the electric utility's ongoing maintenance program that will see the replacement of more than 10,000 aging wooden utility poles this year throughout the province. There are no pole replacements currently scheduled for West Vancouver.
BC Hydro maintains 900,000 wooden poles as part of its electricity distribution system and more than 20 per cent of those have been in service for more than 40 years.
Over time, wooden poles weaken due to weather, insects and wildlife. Once a pole reaches the end of its life, crews install a new one to improve the safety and reliability of the electrical system. The average lifespan of a power pole is 40 to 50 years and most of the old poles are recycled once removed.
The upcoming maintenance work may require BC Hydro or its contractors to disconnect power. Residents will be informed in person, by mail or by phone if these outages need to be scheduled for safety reasons.
