By SARAH SHMERLING | Editor-in-Chief
Overhead power pole inspections by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power in Pacific Palisades are now underway, with plans to continue through the end of October.
“We have always had an inspection program in place of our electrical equipment,” LADWP Community Affairs Liaison Deborah Hong explained during the most recent Pacific Palisades Community Council meeting on August 24. “What is new, however, is that we now have a contractor on board to do these inspections, and what that means is that we will be able to complete a lot more of these inspections, we’ll be able to do them simultaneously and kind of get through larger areas of the city.”
Detailed “in-depth visual” inspections, which “ensure safety and reliability,” are done every three years, explained Andrew Christopher, LADWP’s inspection program coordinator, “above and beyond” the five years that California’s Public Utility Commission requires.
“The Public Utilities Commission defines these power pole inspections, as ‘a careful visual inspection of electrical facilities and structures using inspection tools, such as binoculars and measuring devices as appropriate,’” Christopher said. “So basically, the purpose of these inspections is to record the status of power poles that we have in service, while making note of potential upgrades that we may need to make in order to promote the safety and reliability of LADWP’s power system.”
Approximately 4,000 power poles along public roadways and in customers’ backyards in the Palisades will be inspected, which began on Monday, August 28. Each pole inspection takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes, with multiple crews working simultaneously.
“The specifics we look for in these types of inspections include the condition of a power pole,” Christopher reported. “We look for maybe any damage that may be apparent from maybe any vehicles kind of sideswiping poles or leaving any small dents in the poles.”
Inspectors also look out for poles that may be leaning, and then ensure that tags are “legible and accurate.”
“We look for identification tags on the poles as well,” Christopher continued. “Each pole has an identification tag on it, which just labels it appropriately for this specific position of that pole in our system, as well as any equipment such as transformers, those have tags as well … We also, more importantly, look at the electrical and communication equipment and conductors. This includes transformers on the pole as well as the cross arms, which hold up the insulators and wires themselves.”
According to a map provided by LADWP, inspections are scheduled to start near Topanga Beach and Castellammare, before heading north toward The Highlands and east toward Will Rogers State Beach at the same time. The project will wrap up near Santa Monica Boulevard and the 405.
“Inspection set up is minimal,” according to an LADWP slideshow. “No traffic impacts or lane closures anticipated. No anticipated power outages.”
Inspectors will use cameras, binoculars and other tools, and LADWP crews may return to perform follow up repairs as needed.
Christopher explained that LADWP will be working with a contractor, Osmose, who will be identifiable by a hard hat with the Osmose logo, a high-visibility vest and an Osmose ID badge. They will be driving trucks or Jeeps, with the Osmose logo visible on the outside of the vehicle.
For poles located on private property, Osmose inspectors will knock on the resident’s door to request access—they will never walk through a house and instead use a side yard if a pole is located in the backyard. A door hanger will be left at homes that do not answer.
For those who have questions, comments or concerns, LADWP will have representatives stationed nearby to ease communications with Palisadian residents. LADWP customer service is available by calling 800-DIAL-DWP.
Christopher is available via andrew.christopher@ladwp.com or 818-771-4664, and Hong is available at deborah.hong@ladwp.com or 213-367-5204.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.
