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City Light Finds No Additional Problems Among Recently Replaced Streetlights

Seattle City Light found no additional incidents of contact voltage among the 60 streetlights that were damaged and repaired in the last year.  Some of these poles may have been installed after the utility’s comprehensive testing in December and early January.

City Light tested these repaired streetlights after a pole at 23rd Avenue E and Marion Street was found to be energized with 90 volts last week. That pole had been replaced in January.  A dog detected the voltage when it sniffed the pole.

The pole originally was damaged in August of 2010 when a car hit it.  The pole was removed at that time.  Crews replaced the pole in early January and found that the underground service that provides power to the pole also had been damaged.  As a result, temporary overhead service was used to energize the streetlight when the pole was installed in January. 

City Light urges the public that if they suspect voltage at any metal streetlight pole or associated metal fixture that they report the incident immediately by telephone to the Streetlight Hotline (206) 684-7056.