Monday, June 5, Osmose Utilities Services will begin conducting inspections of wood utility poles in the City of Ocala. Osmose will be working to identify poles that are decaying and will also estimate the strength of the current utility poles in use.
Post Date:06/02/2017 3:06 PM
OCALA, Fla. (June 2, 2017) – Monday, June 5, Osmose Utilities Services will begin conducting inspections of wood utility poles in the City of Ocala. Osmose will be working to identify poles that are decaying and will also estimate the strength of the current utility poles in use.
Inspectors with Osmose will provide wood pole maintenance, remedial treatments and will also determine the lifespan of the utility pole. Some of these inspection methods include visual inspections, sound and bore inspections, partial excavation, excavation to a depth of 18 to 24-inches, and inspection with electronic devices. If the pole is more than 15 years old, a more extensive inspection will be performed.
“At Ocala Electric Utility (OEU), our goal is to provide our customers with the best, most reliable electric service,” said Mike Poucher, Ocala Electric Utility Director. “To do this, we need to ensure that our wood utility poles are in good condition, since they serve as the main source of our infrastructure, securing all components. By being proactive, OEU can prevent decaying poles that could easily snap and fall to the ground during severe weather or high winds, thus jeopardizing the system’s reliability. This inspection process is vital to maintain our infrastructure and provide a reliable service to City residents.”
Once a pole is cleared and has passed its inspection, a small aluminum tag will be placed on the pole for efficient monitoring. Poles in need of replacement will be tagged by Osmose, as necessary. The service life of most wood utility poles is approximately 30 to 40 years.
For more information, please contact Ocala Electric Utility at 352-629-2489.
