In furtherance of the Imperial Irrigation District’s (IID) strategic objective to deliver reliable energy service long into the future, the California public power utility's Board of Directors has approved a plan to fully replace just over 8,000 wooden power poles across its vast service area over the next five years.
The action taken by the Board on Tuesday, November 4, approves an investment of $43.6 million to maintain critical infrastructure, thereby improving the electrical service that customers depend upon.
Expected to start in January 2026, dedicated line-construction crews will focus on pole replacement, swapping aged poles with higher-grade infrastructure. The work includes 1,488 transmission poles and 6,570 distribution poles (3,573 in the Coachella Valley and 2,997 in the Imperial Valley). Much of the work will be done with the power lines remaining energized to minimize service interruptions.
“Over the next few years, we’ll see a lot of work being done to strengthen IID’s electrical system, and this is a key project that will boost the resiliency of our power grid, making it stronger and more reliable,” said IID Board Chairwoman Gina Dockstader. “We’re at work building a system that can stand up to challenges and serve everyone better.”
Funds for the pole replacement program are in line with IID’s Electrical System Capital Improvement Plan. This strategic directive, which is supported and facilitated by the rate update, is part of IID’s overall Powering Our Communities Together initiative, where the District aims to invest in its own infrastructure to create cost-effective solutions.
As the work commences, additional items, such as transformers, insulators, crossarms, switches, and related hardware, will be replaced as necessary. In some instances, where it is beneficial and feasible, anti-cascading features will be incorporated to help prevent continuous pole toppling.
The District will continue its current three-year pole inspection program, which involves examining 1,000 wooden poles each month through June 2028. Additionally, IID is exploring other options, including the use of direct-embedded steel poles, steel trusses, corrosion-resistant wraps, and overhead covered conductors, which may be suitable for strengthening poles in some areas.
IID provides power service to 166,000 electric meters over a 6,000-square-mile area, which includes more than 100,000 power poles.
