Temporary measures taken by Aurora Energy to reinforce dangerous power poles are putting the public and linemen at risk, former Delta employee Richard Healey says. But Aurora Energy operations and risk general manager John Campbell says the "pole-nailing" being done is a proven and effective alternative that is a well-tested and common practice. Mr Healey said he was concerned ground conditions were not tested before pole-nailing, and the force required for pole-nailing would weaken the earth and poles around the nailed pole, meaning other poles were at risk of falling. Mr Healey, whose revelations last year about Delta’s power pole practices brought the company and its parent Aurora Energy under public scrutiny, said he had warned against pole-nailing at the time he worked for Delta. A pole nailed last week in Eureka St, Alexandra, had been red-tagged, but that tag was now gone.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 17, 2017 18:25 UTC