OCEAN COUNTY – Ocean County Commissioner Director Joseph H. Vicari recently met with officials from the state Board of Public Utilities (BPU) to discuss efforts in reporting dangerously low-hanging utility wires and crooked utility poles.
Vicari suggested having a public 800 hotline where residents and government agencies can call to report low wires and bent telephone poles.
BPU officials said they already have two hotlines: one for strictly cable television complaints and a second for all other utilities. Either line will accept complaints about exterior cables and utility poles.
“I was very pleased with the response from the Board of Public Utilities. We want to work together with the BPU to solve this potentially dangerous problem,” Vicari said. “Some [wires] are so low that they pose a threat to motorists, bicyclists and even pedestrians.”
Vicari referred to an incident from earlier this year, when a truck became entangled in low-hanging telecommunications cables in Lakewood. As a result, the wires were ripped off of several poles.
Efforts to address the problem directly with utility companies such as Comcast and Verizon have been unsuccessful, Vicari said.
“This is a major health and safety issue, but one company always blames the other and claims it’s not their wires. I can never get a straight answer,” Vicari said.
The BPU officials said they will directly contact the offending utilities if a complaint is forwarded to their 800 number.
Anyone who suspects live electrical wires are down should immediately call 911.
Vicari expressed how utilities need to inspect their poles at least twice a year, and made that request with BPU Executive Director Bob Brabston.
According to BPU officials, they currently have no legal authority to force telecommunication companies to complete such inspections.
The board is, however, currently working with state lawmakers to formulate legislation that would increase the BPU’s authority over cable television providers.
“These cable companies use our county roads for their poles and cables. They are making a decent profit and need to give some back. They need to maintain their infrastructure,” Vicari said.
The public is encouraged to report a problem with a pole or low-hanging cable by contacting the Board’s 800 number 1-800-624-0241 for all utilities or 1-800-624-0331 for cable television complaints. If a resident is not sure of the type of wire or pole, they may call either number.
