Feds to ship in hundreds of power poles

Posted on Aug 18 2015

Tag: Class One, CUC, DOE, Power Task Force

Federal authorities are planning to ship several hundred pieces of power poles to Saipan as part of disaster relief aid.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency Power Task Force is providing assistance to the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.

Typhoon Soudelor crippled CUC’s power generation and distribution systems when it tore through Saipan over two weeks ago.

According to the latest situational report from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Power Task Force is coordinating the airlift of 150 “Class One 45-foot poles.

“Equal amounts of 35-foot poles and 40-foot poles also will be lifted as logistics are determined,” DOE states.

“[FEMA] will acquire and deliver an additional 800 poles via barge.”

As of yesterday, CUC’s pole supply on island remains depleted as supply is gone due to restoration efforts.

The latest count of damaged power poles is at 355. It was previously 276.

There are 195 damaged transformers and 137 damaged meters on Saipan, according to the latest CUC statistics from last week.

Dennis B. Chan | Reporter

Dennis Chan covers education, environment, utilities, and air and seaport issues in the CNMI. He graduated with a degree in English Literature from the University of Guam. Contact him at dennis_chan@saipantribune.com.

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