(correction from source of poles replaced due to wildfire)

With more than 1.2 million wood power poles in service, SaskPower is investing over $5.8 million to inspect and maintain 97,000 of them this year. Inspections will take place through summer and into this fall with crews looking for signs of decay, damage and carpenter ant infestation. SaskPower will also test more than 8,200 overhead power transformer grounds in rural areas.

Tim Eckel, Vice President of Energy Transition and Asset Management, says there are more wood poles in Saskatchewan than people.

“Making sure this critical infrastructure is routinely inspected and maintained is vital to grid reliability. It also saves money by extending the life of the poles.”

As well, crews will install wildfire protection on 2,000 power poles in high-risk areas. From the wildfires so far this year in Saskatchewan, SaskPower has replaced 20 wooden pole structures. They were all in the Buffalo Narrows/Île-à-la-Crosse area.

The schedule for this work is (subject to change):
• Fort Qu’Appelle district – June to July • Swift Current district – June to July
• Maple Creek district – June to July • Regina district – June to August
• Melfort district – June to July • Canora district – July to September
• Moose Jaw district – June to July • Humboldt district – July to October
• North Battleford district – July to October • La Ronge district – September to October
• Yorkton district – July to October • Meadow Lake district – October
• Estevan district – August to September