Find Posts By Topic

Streetlight Safety Inspections Dec. 22 Update

Seattle City Light has agreed to contracts with two companies that will assist with inspections and tests of the utility's metal streetlight poles and groundcover plates.

Seattle City Light has agreed to contracts with two companies that will assist with inspections and tests of the utility’s metal streetlight poles and groundcover plates.

Davey Resources Group will begin testing and inspecting metal streetlight poles and groundcover plates starting Monday, Dec. 27. Davey will cover the territory from Denny Way north to the boundary of City Light’s service territory.

Power Survey Co. (PSC) will begin testing and inspecting metal streetlight poles and groundcover plates starting Monday, Dec. 27.  PSC will cover City Light territory south of Denny Way to the southern service territory boundary.

City Light crews will team with the testing contractors to respond to any instances of contact voltage that may be found.  The pole and/or groundcover will be de-energized and repaired on the spot, if possible.  If more extensive repairs are required, the equipment will remain de-energized until repairs can be completed.

Testing progress and results will be posted as information is reported.

In an effort to do everything we can to ensure public safety, City Light is inspecting all 20,000 metal streetlight poles and 10,000 groundcover plates in its service territory, following the death of a dog that stepped on an energized ground plate in Queen Anne last month. An investigation by the utility determined that a pinched wire and improper grounding caused the hazard.

Reports from residents helped to identify five other streetlights that carried voltage — three in Capitol Hill/Central District, one in High Point and one in Greenwood.

City Light completed inspections on all metal streetlight poles and ground cover plates at Seattle Housing Authority locations, including High Point, GreenBridge, New Holly and Rainier Vista. No other voltage readings were found.