Arizona utility company replacing record number of power poles after summer storms
Sep 16, 2015, 11:19 AM | Updated: 12:17 pm
(Twitter Photo)
(Twitter Photo)
PHOENIX — The strong storms that have swept across the Phoenix area have wreaked havoc with power poles, but a state utility company has gone about beefing up its footmen of electricity after a record number were mangled over the summer.
A spokeswoman for Arizona Public Service said more than 2,600 wood power poles have been replaced since June. The downed poles were being replaced with ones made of steel.
Metro Phx Update: APS crews made remarkable progress overnight. 14,600 customers restored; about 700 customers to go. pic.twitter.com/SALeVic4ek
— APS (@apsFYI) September 15, 2015
More than 35 percent of the poles have already been swapped out.
Thousands of customers were without power this week after the monsoon blew over wood poles and tore down electrical lines mostly in central Phoenix.
Crews were working early and late to get the power restored.
A storm in late August brought similar results — poles snapped like twigs in the gusts and customers were left in the dark.
In July, a storm laid waste to more than four dozen APS poles in and around Wittman, Arizona.
