HECO pairs up utility poles when work is incomplete

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Nov 23, 2012

~~Question: It seems the utilities are no longer "replacing" utility poles. Instead, when a pole is unsafe, due to age or termites, or even when it's been knocked partially down by an auto, they place a new pole next to the old one, sometimes strapping them together. Hawaiian Electric Co. transfers their lines to the new pole as soon as it is in, but the phone lines, cable lines and usually street lights are left on the old pole, even when they are inches apart. There has been a lot of talk about view planes lately, but this seems to be the norm and is cluttering the skyline. I see this all over the island, and in Kailua if I go one mile down the road, I will see six sets of double poles. Why is this the norm? Who is responsible?
Answer: Hawaiian Electric ultimately is responsible for removing the poles, but removal also depends on when the other utilities complete their work.
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Question: It seems the utilities are no longer "replacing" utility poles. Instead, when a pole is unsafe, due to age or termites, or even when it's been knocked partially down by an auto, they place a new pole next to the old one, sometimes strapping them together. Hawaiian Electric Co. transfers their lines to the new pole as soon as it is in, but the phone lines, cable lines and usually street lights are left on the old pole, even when they are inches apart. There has been a lot of talk about view planes lately, but this seems to be the norm and is cluttering the skyline. I see this all over the island, and in Kailua if I go one mile down the road, I will see six sets of double poles. Why is this the norm? Who is responsible?

Answer: Hawaiian Electric ultimately is responsible for removing the poles, but removal also depends on when the other utilities complete their work. Login for more...