power line


Wood power poles in the Swift Current, Maple Creek and Shaunavon areas will be undergoing maintenance this summer and fall.

SaskPower crews will test over 100,000 wood power poles for decay, carpenter ant infestation and mechanical damage as part of their Wood Pole Maintenance program, which was started back in 2000.

"The average lifespan of a pole is considered to be about 30 to 40 years, and we can extend it, we believe, to 70 years or greater," said Greg Meikle, Electrical Engineering Technologist for the Crown Utility. "That's reducing our environmental footprint by not using as many poles, and it's a lot cheaper."

Maintenance costs just over $200 per pole on average, while replacement costs upwards of $3,000 per pole.

Meikle adds crews will stay within the SaskPower right of way as much as possible, but there may be times where access to private property is required.

Todd Vallee talked with Greg Miekle about the program: