Double trouble: The lingering problem of ghost poles on America’s power grid

“Double wood,” “ghost pole,” “buddy pole,” or “stump pole” refer to old utility poles that are left standing alongside new ones after a change out or transfer. The process of moving equipment such as wires, cables, transformers, and other equipment from the old poles to new ones is complex and often involves multiple parties (pole owners and attachers). Because of these complicating factors, the original poles are often left in place, cluttering as well as complicating the environment.

The abandoned poles present safety risks, such as being more prone to falling due to age/integrity, as well as create a nuisance for property owners and eyesore for the general public. Because these double poles require extra precautions, they may also cause delays in maintenance or repair work and contribute to inefficient utility management practices.

Utility pole change-outs occur for several reasons:

1. Aging and deterioration: Over time, poles made from wood or other materials degrade due to weather exposure, insects, or rot.
2. Damage: Poles may be damaged by car accidents, storms, or other incidents that compromise their structural integrity.
3. Infrastructure upgrades: Newer, taller, or stronger poles may be required to support additional equipment or higher power loads due to increasing energy demand or new fiber or other communication technology like 5G.
4. Regulatory compliance: Utilities must ensure poles meet safety standards such as those set by the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC).
5. Rearrangement of utilities: If multiple utilities share a pole, one company’s changes may necessitate replacing the entire pole to support additional weight or reposition equipment.

Coordination between utilities is often needed to fully remove these poles. When a utility company replaces a pole, it is required to notify all third parties with attachments on the pole, such as telecom providers, to transfer their equipment to the new pole. However, this process can drag on indefinitely if any of the companies fail to act, or contacting the appropriate individuals becomes difficult, leaving the old poles still in place.

The issue of double wood has become a growing concern across various communities across the country. They can linger for years without being removed, leading to safety hazards, communication issues between utility companies, and significant public frustration. Local officials, utility companies, and residents have expressed concerns about the impacts of these poles, with efforts being made to address the problem through both legislative and logistical means.

In Warren, Ohio*, the city is dealing with more than 300 double utility poles. Communication breakdowns among utility companies have been cited as a major reason for the delays in removing old poles. Justin Wooden, senior manager of engineering and construction at Brightspeed, explained to the Tribune Chronicle, that while electronic systems are in place to notify all relevant companies, they are not always effective: “Everything tries to be electronic but doesn’t do it very well.” Different companies often use different systems, creating confusion and inefficiency. This problem is further exacerbated by frequent changes in utility company ownership, as Brightspeed itself has changed names multiple times in the past decade, leading to alerts being sent to defunct email addresses.

The widespread issue of double wood across these regions underscores the need for better coordination, clearer regulation, and technological improvements. With these elements, utilities can begin to obtain accurate double wood records. Recently, tools utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) image analysis have come on the market to assist. IKE’s Double Wood Detective module from IKE Insight offers a powerful solution for managing double wood inspection workflows. IKE Insights’s tool helps utilities efficiently detect and validate instances of double wood, allowing for swift action with minimal field inspections. The tool ensures accurate double wood records, uncovering previously undetected instances and updating pole removal statuses. By leveraging IKE Insight’s pole-specific AI capabilities, utilities can pinpoint double wood across their entire network using street-level imagery, significantly reducing the need for time-consuming in-field assessments.

This not only enhances public and worker safety but also mitigates insurance risks and liabilities. By automating the detection, validation, and change tracking processes, IKE Insight’s Double Wood Detective helps keep utility projects on track while improving operational efficiency.

The proper management of the double wood population enhances the safety of the public as well as utility workers. Prompt identification and corrective action reduces the risk of pole failure, accidents, and injury due to weakness or damage to the pole. Slow corrective action can lead to legal and insurance liabilities. IKE Insight can help mitigate those risks posed by costly lawsuits, claims and insurance premiums due to accidents or property damage.

Maintaining accurate records of pole infrastructure, including double wood, is critical to keep the grid stable and reliable. Improvements in the overall integrity of the electrical grid result from the timely transfer of assets from one pole to the next. Proactively managing double wood instances can help utilities stay compliant with regulatory requirements for removal or replacements. Documentation of this transfer of assets can give the utility the evidence they need in reducing liability.

*“Warren Pushes for Utility Pole Fix”, Tribune Chronicle, June 5, 2024.

Learn more about IKE Insight’s intelligent automation for double wood detection.

John J. Simmins is the Director of the Advanced Power Grid Laboratory at Alfred University. His responsibilities include using the unique facilities to research renewable energy integration research, study on the impact of DERs on grid stability and performance, and research the optimization of energy storage and distributed generation systems . Alfred provides undergraduate and graduate degrees in Renewable Energy Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, as well as Glass and Ceramic Engineering. Dr. Simmins spent ten years at EPRI as a Technical Executive before going to Alfred. At EPRI he studied the intersection of augmented reality, artificial intelligence, and geospatial information systems. He holds a B.S. and Ph.D. in Ceramic Engineering from Alfred University.