Committee approves double-poles bill

The Legislature’s Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities, and Energy has favorably reported a bill intended to expedite the removal of doubled-up utility poles.

When a pole is damaged or has reached the end of its life, utility companies often attach the new one to a portion of the old one, creating a “double pole.” State law (Ch. 164, Sec. 34B) requires double poles to be removed within 90 days because they are unsightly and pose a safety hazard, but the law lacks an enforcement mechanism.

The proposed legislation (H. 3380) would require the Department of Public Utilities and the Department of Telecommunications and Cable to jointly issue new regulations within one year on how to deal with the poles. Those regulations may include a statewide fine structure that communities could use at local option.

The bill would also create a double-pole remediation advisory council, composed of utility companies, union representatives, and municipal officials, to work through details such as how to manage the Pole Lifecycle Management system and the backlog of double-pole complaints.

The MMA commended the legislation as a starting point, but expressed concerns that it doesn’t go far enough in giving local officials the authority to deal with double poles in their communities.

“We are glad the legislation is moving,” MMA Executive Director Geoff Beckwith told State House News Service. “We believe the legislation needs to be stronger, however, in really offering a guaranteed solution for cities and towns. … It draws more attention to the issue, but it does not set in place a framework that with confidence would lead to enforcement powers for cities and towns.”

Rep. Kate Hogan, a member of the committee that helped draft the legislation from 14 separate bills, estimated that there are 30,000 double poles in Massachusetts.

The MMA will continue to work with legislators to ensure a strong bill for municipalities.