Asset management of wood pole utility structures

This paper describes two probabilistic approaches for evaluating the economic impacts of alternative maintenance strategies, design strategies (design load), and compensation fees for undelivered energy. The first approach is based on simulating as function of time the statistical expected value of the number of pole replacements in each year due to climatic damage and maintenance replacements at regular inspection intervals. The second approach calculates the number of failed poles due to single large storms (wind, ice). Calculated examples show that the introduction of compensation fees for undelivered energy gives a strong incentive to carry out live line maintenance, and to design and construct mechanically stronger lines.