Tri-County Electric Cooperative (TCEC) contractor crews with Global Utility Services have started inspecting and treating power poles for quality condition and stability, starting at the Kansas state line between Liberal and Forgan and working south to the Beaver River. The work should be completed in 2-3 months. They may work outside of business hours, including weekends. Inspection crews may use pickups and four-wheelers near your property.
Inspections on the Gridliance transmission poles will start within the next few weeks. Crews will start near Turpin and work west towards the Hooker, Guymon, and Hough areas. This phase of inspections should be completed by April 2024.
Pole inspection keeps TCEC’s electric system safe and reliable. We appreciate your cooperation and patience during this process.
TCEC annually inspects about one-fifteenth of its service area. The areas are defined by the typical 15-year lifespan of the pole treatment. The reject rate of poles that must be replaced is about one percent with normal wear and tear, not including catastrophic events such as weather.
Each pole has identification listing height, class, type of wood and treatment, the year, month, and where it was produced. The inspection process includes crews digging at the base of poles and performing tests for decay. A preservative, if needed, is applied to the base of the pole to prevent any future decay, which can add years to the life of a pole.
If you have any questions about the pole inspection process, please contact TCEC at (580) 652-2418 or by email.