CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Pacific Gas & Electric plans to replace 37 center bore utility poles in the city of Clearlake.
What's more, the city has replacement options in the project including those that are at no expense.
A street light survey to identify any lights that were not functioning properly was recently conducted by Public Works Director Doug Herren and PG&E representative Robert Cherry.
They calculated a total of 250 street lights in the city, some of which are owned by entities other than PG&E or the city, such as Caltrans or private individuals.
According to Cherry, 65 PG&E-owned poles are in need of light bulb repair. He said poles are identified by pole numbers and that repair orders are issued by such.
“The problem is, there are no pole numbers,” he said. “We are hoping to have the 65 poles that need repair done, and try to identify who owns the other ones.”
PG&E representative Mark O'Leary said decorative utility poles with either single or double light fixtures are replacement options eligible to the city at no cost.
O'Leary said the new fixtures have better optics and the poles are shorter – 14 or 16 feet – than those to be replaced.
“Closer to the ground, means more light on the ground,” O'Leary said.
The city can choose standard “cobra” head fixtures with LED lighting on galvanized steel poles, according to O'Leary. LED lighting, however, will cost the city about $200 per fixture.
O'Leary said while the decorative poles are not LED, which is less costly to operate, they will be able to be converted at some point in the future.
PG&E will work with Herren to identify the type of pole and light fixture the community wants in replacement.
Herren said the majority of utility poles targeted for replacement are located on Lakeshore Drive.
O'Leary said the project is estimated to cost $167,000, not including any city-owned poles.
He said area residents who may be impacted will be notified three days prior to replacement work.
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