PG&E’s Aging Poles: How the utility plans to fix them — and how long they've known

KCRA 3 Investigates has uncovered more issues with maintenance and infrastructure belonging to Pacific Gas and Electric Company. Our team found a decade-old warning about poles treated with a solution called "Cellon." Cellon is meant to prevent infestation and rotting on power poles, but as the poles age, they can still be subject to dry rot. The California Public Utilities Commission said research has found Cellon-treated poles are more likely to be flagged for reinforcement or replacement once they are 42 years old.

[brianhowell]

Snow storm and wind will always knock down trees… regardless of the power pole underneath them.

[andy-tizf]

wood poles certainly aren't meant to last forever.

[justinlawson]

PG&E is an extremely well funded monopoly.
I suppose the real question here is: How were decades of exorbitant rate increases for grid “maintenance” spent? I would suggest, that much like any other publicly funded monopoly/government supported agency, it is prone to waste, mismanagement, and corruption. Unfortunately this type of mandated (guaranteed funds) public financial support without publicly mandated accountability, not only mirrors the current state of our government, it promotes fraud and waste..