NBC Connecticut Investigates: Why double utility poles keep lingering for years across the state 

A bad wreck or nasty storm damages utility poles in your neighborhood — and you’re still looking at that mess… for years? 

NBC Connecticut Investigates has learned there are thousands of unsightly — and potentially unsafe — double poles across the state, where a damaged pole sits right next to the one replacing it, with untransferred wires and equipment still hanging overhead. 

While Connecticut has made progress in eliminating double poles, the problem isn’t going away anytime soon. 

A Growing, Visible Problem 

We’ve seen these poles held together with straps, cables, and creative wood bracketing. Addressing the safety and aesthetic concerns about these double poles is quite a job. 

In Essex, resident Lon Seidman said he’s reported multiple dangerous poles in his neighborhood. 

“I called in, I think at least five or six of them, some of them held up by ropes, some of them held up by ratchet straps. So I was concerned that either me or my kids, or maybe one of my neighbors, might get hit with a pole when their rope gave out.” 

He’s not alone. From quiet Shoreline towns to the busy streets of Hartford, once you notice double poles, you can’t unsee them. 

Hartford resident Bill Katz has been complaining about them for years. 

“When they replace a pole, they just leave it.” “It’s dangerous when they leave something like this.” 

Google Earth images show one pole on Route 10 in Avon damaged in 2020 — and still standing in 2021, 2024, and even today. 

Tens of Thousands of Double Poles 

In 2022, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) reported 25,000 double poles statewide, though the agency notes the number varies depending on the calculation method. 

Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, who has been pushing for solutions in his Norwalk district for a decade, said: 

“Our community should not be littered by these double poles.” 

Why Poles Sit for So Long 

When a pole needs replacing, electric utilities transfer their lines first — and quickly. Connecticut’s legacy phone company, which owns half of the state’s 900,000 poles, goes last. 

In between are cable and internet providers, whose schedules often create long delays. 

Duff says: 

“We’re waiting and waiting and waiting for the utilities to come here, sometimes six months, sometimes a year.” 

One of those utilities, Optimum, told NBC Connecticut: 

“Optimum recognizes the importance of maintaining safe, reliable, and efficient utility infrastructure for the customers and communities we serve across Connecticut. We have made significant progress, with vast majority pole transfers now completed, and we remain focused on finishing the remaining work as quickly and safely as possible. We are working closely and collaboratively with local officials and partner utilities to reduce the presence of double utility poles and to ensure timely line transfers whenever conditions allow. We appreciate the continued patience and partnership of our Connecticut communities as we complete this important effort.” 

PURA’s Pilot Program: Progress, but Not a Full Fix 

To speed things up, PURA launched the Single Visit Transfer (SVT) pilot in 2022, allowing a third‑party contractor to handle all communications transfers (i.e. cable, high speed internet) in one coordinated visit. 

The program eliminated about 7,000 double poles in two years. 

But new double poles continue to appear, and PURA cannot say how many currently exist. 

Connecticut’s major electric utilities report more than 21,000 double poles today. 

Utility Companies Respond 

Eversource Statement  

“A ‘double pole’ happens when a new utility pole is installed next to an existing pole, typically because the original pole requires replacement. The new pole is set before wires are transferred so that electric and communication services can remain uninterrupted. Poles may be replaced for a variety of reasons, including vehicle accidents, storm damage, infrastructure upgrade projects, aging infrastructure, routine system maintenance or when a third-party attachment requires a taller or stronger pole to support additional wires and equipment. 

When a pole is replaced, the new pole is installed next to the existing one, and facilities are transferred in a structured sequence from the top of the pole downward. Electric facilities, which occupy the top portion of the pole, are transferred first by the electric utility. Municipal and communication attachers – such as telecommunications and cable providers – are responsible for transferring their own facilities in succession within the designated communications space below the electric lines. 

Under Connecticut’s regulatory framework, each attacher is responsible for transferring their own equipment. The electric utility does not transfer communications facilities, nor does it collect payment for communications transfers. Communications attachers bear the cost of transferring their own facilities, and those costs are not passed on to electric customers. The timeline for fully removing the original pole can vary depending on the number of attachers present and the coordination required among multiple entities. 

To help reduce the number of double poles more efficiently, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) established the Single Visit Transfer (SVT) pilot program. The purpose of this pilot is to consolidate communications transfers into a single coordinated visit by a contractor working on behalf of all the communications attachers. This reduces the number of site visits and can shorten the time required to complete transfers in the communications space. It is important to note that the SVT pilot applies only to communications transfers and does not include electric facility transfers. Electric utilities remain responsible only for transferring their own facilities and removing their own custodial poles once all other required transfers are complete. 

As of early February 2026, approximately 21,000 double poles were identified within Eversource’s Connecticut service territory. The vast majority of these are pending communications transfers or removal following completion of all transfers. A relatively small portion (less than 4%) are awaiting electric transfer. Eversource remains committed to working within PURA’s regulatory framework and in coordination with communications attachers to continue reducing the number of double poles across the state.” 

United Illuminating (UI) Statement  

“UI currently has just over 450 double poles, out of approximately 157,000 total UI poles in our service area… The pole attacher companies do pay us what you might consider ‘rental fees’ for their use of UI poles, which generates approximately $4 million per year on behalf of UI customers. However, when a pole needs to be replaced because it no longer meets National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) criteria, and there isn’t a clear ‘cost causer’ on the replacement (in other words, it’s unclear which pole attacher ‘caused’ the pole to fail), that’s when the electric utilities have historically spread that cost across all our customers.” 

UI told us this works out to costs of cents on the dollar shared with ratepayers. 

Workers Raise Safety Concerns 

The Communications Workers of America (CWA) sued PURA over the pilot program, citing safety and job‑loss concerns. 

CWA Local 1298 President Dave Weidlich said: 

“It’s not safe for people to work around the double poles because there hasn’t been a transfer and now you’re balancing wires over here, wires over there on the new pole.” 

The union has supported legislation to move beyond the pilot phase and enforce strict timelines and fines. 

Residents Still Left to Push for Action 

For now, residents like Seidman said the burden falls on neighborhoods. 

“It’s really unfortunately incumbent upon the neighborhood to take action and contact the utility regulators, who then get things moving.” 

A Regional Issue 

It’s not just Connecticut. NBC Boston has reported 19,000 double poles in Massachusetts. 

If you see a dangerous double pole, NBC Connecticut invites you to send photos or videos to shareit@nbcconnecticut.com, or reach out to Len Besthoff on social media 

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