Photo: BC Hydro

Over the next few months, BC Hydro will be replacing 280 wooden distribution poles in Vernon.

It's part of a wider ongoing maintenance program project aimed at replacing more than 9,000 poles across the province. 

Power poles last about 40 to 50 years on average, but weaken and deteriorate over time due to adverse weather, insects and wildlife.
 
The BC Hydro network includes 900,000 wooden poles that hold more than 58,000 kilometres of overhead distribution lines and 278,000 overhead transformers.

BC Hydro will notify customers in-person, by mail or phone about any scheduled power outages in Vernon.