Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Advice needed: wires hanging from utility pole
- This topic is empty.
-
AuthorPosts
-
August 14, 2014 at 3:51 am #612349
shed22ParticipantHi all! Doing well? I hope so. I could use some help. There is a utility pole outside my house. The other day a long strand of wire dropped from the ^up there^. Doubt it is electric (the person who moved it from their property to mine didn’t die). Maybe a cable wire? I am lazy and don’t want to deal with it. But there it is. Do I call SPU? Comcast? What can I do to correct this? Also, am I responsible for someone who is electrocuted on the sidewalk if it turns out to be a charged wire? Thanks for your time. Kindly.
August 14, 2014 at 5:26 pm #812117
seaopgalParticipantDid it come from ^way, way up there^? The top of the pole crossbar or a little lower down, anywhere you can see insulators or a transformer, or where it connects to a street light? Call Seattle City Light asap … and don’t touch it. If it came from the lowest set of wires on the pole — with no insulators — then it’s the phone line or cable. Cable wires are usually the “blackest,” “fattest” and “view-blockingest.” (I’m assuming it is still attached to the pole, and not that it came down from the pole and is still attached to your house. If not, and you can’t tell where it originally attached to the pole, I would start with City Light just to be safe.)
August 14, 2014 at 6:14 pm #812118
WSConvertMemberCall City Light to report it as a “downed wire”. They will send someone out to assess what type of wire it is and they’ll arrange for it to be cleared whether it is an electrical wire, cable wire, or phone wire.
As far as responsibility, hopefully City Light will get out there and get it fixed so you never have to answer that complex question! Reporting as soon as possible will reduce any potential future liability.
August 14, 2014 at 9:09 pm #812119
shed22ParticipantThank you, seaopgal and WSConvert. The wire is not connected to the pole itself, but dangling from another wire. From seaopgal’s description, it appears most likely a cable/phone wire. Calling City Light now to have someone come out. Many thanks to you both.
August 14, 2014 at 9:46 pm #812120
trickycooljParticipantI think I had that happen once where I lived about 10 years ago. If I recall there’s sometimes a second wire/rope that stabilizes the actual utility wire, and that’s what came down on our driveway. It after heavy snow so it either disintegrated or weighed down the support wire/rope.
August 15, 2014 at 2:17 am #812121
shed22ParticipantDisintegrated. That would be nice, trickycoolj. Unfortunately, my lazy ass needs to call Comcast to take care of it. City Light quickly responded to my call and left me a note. It’s a cable wire that is the responsibility of the cable company. Here we go, Comcast!
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.