![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
Between the lines: The Green New Deal
By Gwen Kautz, General Manager gkautz at dawsonpower.com 308-324-2386 If you haven’t caught the news reports, you may have missed one of the most audacious and ridiculous plans unfold via a newly elected official. I’m talking about the “Green New Deal” introduced by...
Galloping lines
Ice and wind can be dangerous and destructive to power lines, leading to a disruption in service. When ice accumulates on power lines and the wind blows simultaneously, the wires can start to move up and down in an oscillating motion called galloping. Galloping can...
Over $3.8 million in planned system improvements scheduled for 2019
Over $3.8 million in system improvements are scheduled for construction in 2019. Compared to the past eight years, this budget is lower than the average budget of $8.2 million. Please see the General Manager's column for details. As a not-for-profit utility, Dawson...