PG&E inspects their wood poles every 10 years. During the next four months, Osmose (PG&E’s contractor) will be inspecting 67,100 wood utility poles in the cities and unincorporated areas throughout San Mateo County. The goal is to confirm and preserve each pole’s strength for the next 10 years. If a pole is determined to need reinforcement or replacement, another team will handle that task at a future date.
There are five Osmose crews working in and around Atherton on PG&E’s Pole Test and Treat Program. They anticipate their work in this area will be completed by the last week of July.
Osmose contractors work in a four person team (see picture right) and they work in sequence, each performing their task at each pole:
• Lead person does visual inspection
• 2nd crew member evaluates and performs hand-digging excavation if necessary
• 3rd crew person performs testing by drilling into pole, applies fumigant if necessary, plugs the pole
• 4th crew person is the foreman
Customers living in the vicinity of these poles will receive a letter providing notification of our work – sample letter like the following:
http://ca-atherton.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/3326
Contractors will not enter property without consent from the customer. For poles in backyards, contractor (lead person #1) will knock to obtain permission to enter yard. If customer is not home, a door hanger will be left requesting customer to call contractor to give consent and make arrangements for follow-up visit.
If no response is received, contractor will call customer within 24-48 hours. As necessary, contractor will return to make contact with customer, attempt to reach customer by phone and a letter will be sent.
Learn more
If you have any questions about this work, please call PG&E’s Pole Testing Customer Service Line at 1-877-443-3303. Please leave a detailed message including your name, address and preferred contact phone number or email address. This line is monitored during business hours and one of their representatives will route your questions for a prompt response.