If you see bright orange rings around your power poles this month, don't be alarmed. KPUD contractors will soon begin another season of power pole testing in the Lyle, Bingen and White Salmon service areas.

"Just because there's a ring around your pole doesn't mean it's going to fall over," stresses Ron Ihrig, KPUD Operations Manager. "We are catching the problem early enough to replace it before there is a danger."

1,500 poles will be tested this year, out of the 32,000 poles in KPUD's service territory. Poles are tested on a 14-year cycle, and there is a $105,000 budget for the project in 2002.

KPUD customers need to be aware that chemicals are used when poles are being tested. These chemicals are used to prevent or limit decay in the poles, and will not leech into the soil or cause problems for customers in the area. Some of the chemicals specify that they not be used within 100 ft. of an inhabited area, which includes people, pets or livestock. Crews are required to use chemical goggles or face masks when handling these chemicals.

When poles are tested, crews dig down 24 in. around the base of the pole, and then drill holes into the pole at an angle, or re-drill holes if the pole has been tested in the past. Crews look for decay in the pole, and then fill the hole with a wooden plug and wrap the area with a preservative.

"Once you drill a hole, you are just inviting decay," said Ihrig.

If a pole is determined to have decay, an orange ring will be painted on it, which means it needs to be replaced within a reasonable amount of time. Two rings will be painted if the pole is a "danger" pole, and is likely to fall down. If that is the case, daily reports will be made to the owner, and a replacement will be scheduled.

Bids for the contract were opened on March 28, and the bid will be awarded on April 9. This means contractors could begin testing as early as April 14.

KPUD has less than a 2% pole failure rate now, down from 8% when testing first started. Some districts do not test poles, but Ihrig says it is a maintenance issue for KPUD, and allows crews to replace weak poles before they are knocked down during a storm, cutting down on the outage rates as well.

Chemicals used will include MITC-Fume, Vapam (for danger poles only), or Chloropicrin (not to be used with 100 ft. of inhabited areas). For materials safety data on these chemicals, please contact Robbie Cacy, Operations Support, at 773-7629.