![Inner Pole Testing Picture of a man using a device to check for wood decay on a utility pole.](https://dawsonpower.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/IMG_7612-scaled.jpg)
As a not-for-profit utility, Dawson PPD focuses on cost-effectively extending the life of its existing facilities while maintaining adequate levels of safety and reliability. Testing wooden poles helps the District ensure reliability and long life of its equipment, saving customers money in the long run.
Traditionally, pole testing involved a hammer for sounding, a shovel for digging around the base and drilling holes to test for decay. Today, Dawson PPD hires a contractor that uses a scientifically-based system called POLUX as a less-invasive and more accurate form of testing.
POLUX works by sending two, three inch long probes the size of an eight-penny nail into the base of the utility pole. This is the most vulnerable point where decay is most likely to occur on a pole. The probes measure resistance and moisture content of the pole. This information, along with the type of wood the pole is made of and how it was treated are run through a computer program with the pole’s GPS location recorded.
Typically, Dawson PPD uses a Southern Yellow Pine tree for its poles, which should have a resistance of 8,000 pounds per square inch when new. If the measurement falls below 50 percent of the recommended resistance, in this case 4,000 PSI, the pole is marked for replacement.
All of Dawson PPD’s poles are tested every 10 years on a rotating schedule with 10,000-11,000 poles tested annually.
OTHER NEWS
5 outdoor electrical hazards
1. Power Lines Always look up and out for power lines. Keep you and your equipment at least 10 feet away from power lines. 2. Outdoor Outlets These should be powered by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), whihc turns itself off it is senses a current leak or a...
Putting our story together
Putting our story together Tuesday, June 25, 2019 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Dawson PPD Lexington Headquarters 75191 Rd 433, Lexington NE Join us for a fun, educational day as we learn about the pieces that make up Dawson PPD's puzzle. Hear from experts about the public...
Making cents of our financials
By Shannon Peard, Manager of Finance and Administration If you’re like us, you like to know where your dollars and cents are going. We’ll take a look back at 2018 and see where our money came from and what it was used for. Dawson PPD is committed to using your dollars...