Longest Life Case Study
SUMMARY
A Pacific Island utility traditionally used wood and steel poles for distribution and transmission. Wood was used for lower initial cost; steel was used to resist brush fires. The utility evaluated the Net Present Value (NPV) benefit of RS poles versus other materials over a 20-year cost period to determine the most cost-effective solution.
PROBLEM
Both wood and steel deteriorate quickly in the local climate:
- Wood is susceptible to termites and rot.
- Steel is susceptible to corrosion as a result of the humid coastal climate and airborne salt exposure.
- Conventional materials require regular maintenance and costly early replacement.
- The utility was spending a large portion of resources maintaining and replacing their grid frequently.
RS POLE SOLUTION
- No replacement costs – which was costing the utility $15,000/pole.
- No regular inspections – which was costing the utility $175/pole.
- Minimum 6-fold increase in service life.
- NPV savings of RS poles vs. Wood for a 20-year cost period (based on typical yearly usage) is estimated at $27,573,624.
