Wood Utility Pole Inspection and Treatment

2026-11-03

The HLD is requesting services for the inspection and treatment of 50 % ( approximately 2 , 600 ) of HLD owned wood utility poles in FY27 , beginning July 1 , 2026 and the remaining 50 % to be completed in FY28 , beginning July 1 , 2027 . In addition , each year there will be approximately 800 “ Foreign ” poles that will receive an above ground visual inspection only . This work shall be completed in a safe and effective manner to provide the HLD with accurate data to determine pole changeout requirements due to decay or failure and provide an extension of life to poles that will benefit from treatment . Details for the inspection and treatment processes as well as other action items during the project are communicated in the following sections . 3 . WOOD POLE INFORMATION 3 . 1 . The HLD electric utility pole system consists of three main pole owners : HLD , Verizon , and Potomac Edison with an approximate total quantity of 7 , 320 . 3 . 1 . 1 . HLD owned poles ( approximately 5 , 200 ) can be identified by locating 3 ” inch round metal ( aluminum or copper ) tags on the face of the pole that may carry any of the following operating names : 3 . 1 . 1 . 1 . “ HLD ” ( Hagerstown Light Department ) 3 . 1 . 1 . 2 . “ City Light ” 3 . 1 . 1 . 3 . “ MELP ” ( Municipal Light Plant ) 3 . 1 . 2 . Foreign owned poles ( approximately 2 , 100 ) are marked with operating company ownership tagging : 3 . 1 . 2 . 1 . “ Verizon ” poles carry standard communication company pole tagging nomenclature under various operating companies such as “ Verizon ” and “ C & P ” but have also been tagged by the HLD with round metal “ F ” tags to denote “ foreign ” ownership . An example of these tags are in a series type “ F100123 ”. This tagging enables tracking of “ joint ” use poles within our GIS system model . Therefore , all “ F ” poles are Verizon owned and shall be treated as specified in Section 4 . 2 of this document . 3 . 1 . 2 . 2 . “ Potomac Edison ” poles will carry tagging under a variety of operating names such as “ Potomac Edison ”, “ P . E ”, “ A . P . S ”, “ Allegheny Power ”, etc ., are considered “ foreign ” and shall also be treated as specified in Section 4 . 2 of this document . 3 . 2 . HLD poles exist in the public right - of - way , on private property , and within HLD electrical substations . Access to poles on private property is afforded through HLD easements . For HLD poles within electrical substations , access shall be coordinated with the HLD project contact . 4 . INSPECTION / TREATMENT / REPORTING SPECIFICATIONS 4 . 1 . To Inspect : 4 . 1 . 1 . HLD owned poles specified shall be visually inspected above grade regardless of age . 4 . 1 . 2 . HLD owned poles specified shall be internally & externally inspected below grade , except : 4 . 1 . 2 . 1 . Poles less than 10 years of age . 4 . 1 . 2 . 2 . Poles located in concrete or asphalt . These poles shall be bored and sampled to determine health of the pole below grade per section ( 4 . 5 . 4 ).

Maryland

2026-05-02