BC Hydro crews will replace 230 power poles in Prince George this year.
The work is part of BC Hydro's ongoing maintenance program that will see the replacement of about 12,000 utility poles over the next several months throughout the province, the Crown corporation said Tuesday in a statement.
On average, power poles last about 40 to 50 years. However, there are about 70,000 wooden poles in the system that have been in service for more than 50 years.
Power poles weaken and deteriorate over time due to adverse weather, insects and wildlife.
"To ensure the safety of our crews and the public, BC Hydro may need to disconnect power when replacing aging power poles," Hydro said. "Crews will notify customers in-person, by mail or phone about these scheduled outages for maintenance."