An 81-year-old Baytown resident says her utility company did not respond to years of complaints about leaning utility poles until a local TV station contacted the company.
Joyce Pennington said she and her neighbors had been worried about the leaning poles outside homes on Goss Road well before the utility finally dispatched a crew, especially one carrying a transformer.
Here's what to know
According to ABC13, Pennington has lived on Goss Road for 50 years and said residents there had repeatedly contacted the utility about poles near their homes that they believed were leaning.
Crews showed up at Goss Road after the news station contacted the company to examine the poles and decide whether more work was needed.
Pennington said the pole that concerned her most was the one with a transformer, which she said was leaning toward someone's front yard. "That has been leaning for a good while," she added, per ABC13.
She also said that the lack of response made her feel ignored, "like nobody cares, and I had done all I could do. I have called numerous times."
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The utility told the station it had a crew assessing the situation and urged customers with concerns to use its Outage Tracker's "Report a Hazard" tool or call by phone about "all potential hazards," per ABC13.
What's being done?
In a statement to the station, the utility's media team said, "We thank ABC13 for bringing this issue to our attention." The statement added that a crew was on the way to assess the poles and determine whether any additional action was needed.
The utility also urged residents to report any similar problems.
Where can I learn more?
Disputes over utility equipment and energy policy aren't limited to one Baytown street.
• In rural America, residents say data center electricity demand is driving up local power concerns.
• In Nebraska, advocates warn a wind power line could threaten the endangered American burying beetle.
• New homeowners said a supposed utility rep turned aggressive while pushing "free solar" door to door.
• One homeowner was told the grid uses excess solar power first, sparking skepticism online.
• A homeowner said an HOA violation notice arrived two years after solar panels were installed.
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