Political fight sparks as electricity network axes timber power poles

The electricity network that covers 95 per cent of NSW is phasing out wooden power poles, sparking a fight with the timber industry and the Coalition, but delighting environmentalists campaigning to end native forest logging.

A spokesperson said reducing the impact of natural disasters on customers was a key driver, since burnt power poles can cause “loss of vital communications links, prolonged power outages and the cost of replacing power poles that are destroyed.” The Australian Energy Regulator approved Essential Energy to make the switch at the end of April as part of its five-yearly review, in part because there is an expected shortage of timber poles available over the next five years. The regulator has indicated at least two other networks across Australia are also using composite poles.

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