Power lines are an integral part of the life. We depend on them to heat our homes, light our businesses, and keep our lives running smoothly. Here's a guide for the elements you may see on a power pole near you.

Power lines:
◆Power Pole EPUD has 29,000 poles in its District, each with a life of about 35 years. They're 30-40 feet tall and weigh a half-ton but are not indestructible. We replaced 20 in 2008 due to car accidents alone.
◆Cross-arm Horizontal piece on the pole hold the insulators and keep the lines from touching each other.
◆Primary Conductor Carries 21,000 volts of electricity from substations to the power pole.
◆Insulator and Pins Insulators, usually made of plastic or porcelain, support the primary conductors and insulate them from the cross-arm or pole. Insulator pins support the insulators on the cross-arm.
◆Pole-top Pin supports the insulators on the power pole.
◆Fused cutout provides overload protection for the system. If you hear a loud blast coming from a power pole, it’s the fused cutout doing its job.
◆Wire and Clamp Secured by a clamp, this wire connects the main line to the transformer.
◆Transformer located about 35 feet up, these cylindrical tanks reduce the primary voltage from 21,000 to 240 for delivery to the customer.
◆Secondary Conductor (Tap) Carries stepped-down electricity from the transformer directly to the Customer-Owner’s meter.
◆Neutral Conductor Acts as a neutral conductor for the system.
◆Strain or Suspension Insulator Holds conductors in place under tension, and insulates them from the pole.
◆Pole Ground Wire Connected to a metal rod driven eight feet into the ground to “ground” the system.
◆Guy Wire Connected to an anchor in the ground to stabilize the pole.
◆Communication Wires (i.e., telephone/cable TV) Generally the lowest wires on the pole, they transmit communication services.

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