re: Interesting graphic on number of power poles damaged by Ida compared with other hurricanes

When Gustav came through Baton Rouge my neighborhood looked like a wing of B-17s had bombed it. Our electricity was out for almost 2 weeks. 3 days after Gustav left I rode my bike trough the neighborhood and noticed that many of the power poles had broken in half about 10 feet in the air . Many oak tree limbs had fallen on the power lines and caused the poles to snap. Later I talked to some of the out of state linemen about the poles and they told me that the poles were dry rotted, they had been there since 1961 and never had been replaced. Entergy /Gulf States does not maintain their infrastructure very well.

I am an electrical engineer.

Burying distribution is not preferable due to the limitations and cost on the utility. If a municipality/customer wants it they pay the difference in an overhead vs underground cost. Wire capacity is the limiting issue, in which you have to build more facilities from a substation perspective which cost more. I can elaborate if someone legitimately wants to understand.

In addition, all overhead meter bases would need to be converted to underground. The utility does not own the meterbase so that cost would be on the customer.

Concrete poles are no longer used due to manufacturing issues. The rebar in the pole ends up being a path to ground. I can explain that further if someone is interested.

Composite poles are being used but they cannot be climbed so they have to be installed where there is truck access. Also 4x the cost of wood poles.

Most utilities have a pole replacement program. There are a lot of poles. This shouldn’t need explanation.

Entergy is self insured. The government doesn’t reimburse for storm damage.

I can’t remember the other question posed in the thread.

Odd for Entergy to wander off into potentially a political minefield at this point....