Politics & Government
New Study Finds Quarter of SoCal Edison Poles Overloaded
Edison has determined that up to 1.4 million poles may need to be repaired or replaced, at a cost of more than $1 billion.
A new study released in July shows that one in four Southern California Edison utility poles is overloaded.
The safety hazards were studied by Edison in response to concerns by the state Public Utilities Commission.
The study found that out of 5,006 poles, 22.3 percent did not meet safety standards. Edison further determined that up to 1.4 million poles may need to be repaired or replaced, at a cost of more than $1 billion, according to the Associated Press.
Power lines damaged by high winds caused the 2007 Malibu Canyon fire that damaged 14 structures. Southern California Edison reached a $37 million settlement with state regulators in May for its role in the fire.
According to Edison, $17 million will be spent on pole-loading assessments and improvement work on power infrastructure in Malibu Canyon and surrounding areas.
In September 2012, the CPUC approved a $12 million settlement with AT&T, Verizon and Sprint.
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