ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Overhead electric power distribution systems are supported by single-pole structures that are mostly wood poles. With over a hundred million wood poles in the US and millions more in other countries, their worth is in the billions. Wood poles are preferred over other materials because they are relatively cheaper to purchase, lighter and easier to transport, are easy to climb and are non-conductive, which makes them safer for utility workers. However, wood poles are susceptible to decay over time, which can significantly reduce their strength. Thousands of wood poles are condemned every year due to decay. The rate of decay depends on climatic conditions particularly relative humidity and temperature. As such, the future rate of wood pole decay is expected to change due to the impact of climate change. Considering the vast number of wood poles in use all over the world, it is imperative to study the potential impact of climate change on decay rate and come up with an optimum adaptation strategy. This paper presents a method for optimal wood pole asset management considering the impact of climate change on decay rate. Renewal theory is used to find the optimal pole replacement/reinforcement age in a network. The results show that climate change can have an impact on the timing of wood pole replacement/reinforcement depending on the length of the service life of the poles, which can impact the cost of periodic maintenance by utility companies.
