Database created to facilitate double pole removal

In response to local concerns about safety hazards created by doubled-up telephone poles, utilities are rolling out a Web-based system designed to improve coordination among utilities and municipalities for the transfer of wires and other pole attachments and the removal of double poles.

Joseph Zukowski, vice president of governmental affairs at Verizon, and Amy Sullivan, a senior analyst with National Grid, described the National Joint Utilities Notification System during the April 23 meeting of the MMA’s Policy Committee on Public Works, Transportation and Public Utilities.

The database system is funded by Eversource, National Grid, Verizon and Unitil and is run by a nonprofit consortium modeled after similar systems in 28 states across the country. The private utilities pay for the database. All other users, including municipalities, can access the database free of charge.

For the past several years, local officials have been calling on the Legislature to pass legislation to expedite the removal of an estimated 30,000 doubled-up utility poles in Massachusetts. Rep. Stephen Kulik of Worthington again filed legislation this year that would authorize cities and towns to enforce the provisions of Section 34B and require utility companies to remove double poles within 90 days or be subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 per occurrence.

When a double pole is created, the wires and equipment are transferred from the old pole to the new pole from top to bottom. Private or municipal electric companies transfer first, followed by private or municipal streetlights, fire alarms, cable television and competitive communications companies.

Coordination between multiple parties has been difficult. Pole owners and those who place attachments on them have not been using a central method to track the work associated with transferring wires and removing double poles. Utilities used one database, while others used emails, spreadsheets, lists or manual systems to track poles, making the process inefficient.

The National Joint Utilities Notification System database creates a “ticket” for each double pole, and the system tracks progress in transferring lines and equipment from old poles to new ones. It electronically notifies the next party when it is its turn to act.

Verizon is contacting previously designated municipal officials to register in the new system and will also be asking communities to help identify any unlicensed attachments, so the new database has a record of who to contact when wires, streetlights and other equipment need to be moved.

Over the next few months, Verizon will also be reaching out to chief municipal officials, who may want to register in the system to access information about double poles in their community. Once registered, those municipal officials will be able to verify any information included in the database and monitor the work associated with transferring fire alarm cables, streetlights and/or other attachments as their turn comes.

So far, 22 municipal electric companies and 89 fire departments have become members in the new system.

According to the utilities, here is what every community can do:

• If your fire department has alarm lines on the utility poles, designate a coordinator for these lines and have this person register in the NJUNS database.

• If your municipality maintains its own streetlights, designate a coordinator and have this person register in the NJUNS database.

• If your municipality wants to designate another point of contact (different from fire alarms or streetlights) for double-pole coordination, have this person register in the NJUNS database.

• If contacted about non-inventoried or unlicensed municipal attachments in your community, complete the process with the appropriate pole owners.

• To discuss double pole priorities in your town, contact the appropriate electric company or Verizon.

For more information and NJUNS database registration, visit www.njuns.com.

The National Grid contact for double poles is Amy Sullivan (Amy.Sullivan@NationalGrid.com or (781) 907-3252).

The Unitil contact for double poles is Keith Caribo (caribo@unitil.com or (978) 353-3263).

For Verizon, visit www.verizon.com/about/community/ma_njuns.htm.