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Why Peco is still using wood for utility poles

Philadelphia has about 111,340 wood poles owned and maintained by Peco.

A Peco lineman repairs a utility pole in Blue Bell.
A Peco lineman repairs a utility pole in Blue Bell.Read moreMICHAEL BRYANT / Staff Photographer

Humanity went from using Morse code to send messages to checking online photos for AI in less than 200 years. But the lanky wood poles holding the cables that make it all possible have not changed much, at least not in Philly.

Wood poles have been a staple for utility connections since Samuel Morse first discovered their potential in the early 1840s. Over the years, concrete, steel, and fiberglass have become alternatives, but Philadelphia has stuck to the classics. Some wood poles waiting to be installed have even gained notoriety for blocking sidewalks.

A reader asked Curious Philly, The Inquirer’s forum for questions about the city and region: Why is Peco still using wood for utility poles?

It comes down to safety and cost-effectiveness, said Peco spokesperson Madison Davis.

Philadelphia has about 111,340 wood poles owned and maintained by Peco. Fixtures like light poles maintained by other entities may use other materials. But wood has a natural insulation and doesn’t conduct electricity, “which is critical from a safety perspective,” Davis said.

The average pole is between 30 and 60 feet tall. A fall from that height can result in blunt chest trauma, fractured ribs, and damage to the lungs and liver. Because they are easier to grip, wood poles are safer for contractors to climb when repairs are needed.

They are also cheaper than fiberglass poles, Davis said without specifying the costs.

“Fiberglass poles are more than three times the cost of wood poles, making [them] significantly more cost-effective,” Davis said, stressing that the cost of materials fluctuates based on supply, demand, availability, and quantity purchased.

Despite being harder to climb — unless you are an Eagles fan, in which case not even grease deters you — and costlier, fiberglass poles have a longer lifespan than wood poles, which last about 60 years, Davis said. Fiberglass also requires less maintenance.

By nature of design, fiberglass is resistant to corrosion and rot, so termites and water decay are less of a concern, making it a more environmentally friendly option than steel and concrete poles.

But don’t try to catch a glimpse of them outside your window, because fiberglass poles are only available at Peco’s lineworker training facility, for a pilot program.

What about underground options?

They come with their own set of challenges, Davis said.

While underground lines are not affected by trees and other vegetation or wind, they are vulnerable to heavy rain and flooding. And their issues are more difficult to locate, making repairs longer and more cost-intensive.

Plus, underground lines could also damage the root systems of trees — unlike fiberglass and wood poles, which are considered to be more environmentally friendly.

Wood poles enter retirement by getting cut into smaller pieces that sometimes are turned into fuel, Davis said. Some poles even write their own obituaries.

On the corner of Third and Federal Streets in South Philly, a pole at the end of its life in 2019 thanked the neighborhood it called home and gave a nod to the “young pole there on the ground” that would soon replace it.