Presentation by Saul Arriola showing dangers of new power poles along Elm Street in El Paso, Texas. Given August 11, 2015

2.  Representatives from:
› MHNA – Manhattan Heights Neighborhood
Assn
› EPE – El Paso Electric Company
› HLC – El Paso Historic Landmark Commission
› News Media

3.  Increase in Electrical Demand
 Increased Demand requires Increased
Supply
 Current service: 2.4 kv Feeder (2,400
volts)
 New Feeder Line : 13.8 kV (13,800 volts)

5.  Pole and Conductor Replacement –
Alley between Aurora and Wheeling
Avenues
 New 45 foot poles along Elm Street
 New Step-Down Transformers -
Placement, Size?

7.  Holes for 45 foot power poles have been
excavated (nominal depth 5 - 6 feet)
 3 out of 7 poles installed along Elm St.
 Construction of Feeder Line currently on
hold
 HLC meeting held on 8/3/2015
 Meeting for compromise between EPE
and MHNA on 8/11/2015

8.  Aesthetics : Historic Preservation / Home
Values
 * Safety Risk 1- Proximity to Existing Sewer
Line
 * Safety Risk 2- Effects of Heavy
Stormwater Flows

9. Pole #2 Louisville Pole #4 Lebanon Pole #6 Aurora
Changing the feel of the residential
neighborhood to that of a Commercial
Zone

10. Location of Pole #4
Corner of
Lebanon & Elm
WITHOUT POLE

11. Location of Pole #4
Corner of
Lebanon & Elm
WITH POLE
(Actual Recent Photo)

12.  Proximity of Poles to Sewer Line
 Old Sewer Pipe Sections under Parkways
 EPWU called in to Repair Sewer Pipe
Damage @ Pole #4 Installation (~7/17/15)
 Risk of Leaks causing Pole Instability
 Difficult to Provide Early Detection of
Failure

13. *Pole embedded in Rock and
Sand matrix – Old Arroyo
Deposits
*Leak in Sewer Pipe may
become Underground Water
Source and Transport path for
Interstitial Material – Causing
Erosion and creating Voids

17.  Elm Street Prone to Major Flooding
 Erosion of Parkways (both natural and
concrete cover)
 Stormwater Flow Hazard Greatest in MH
Section of Elm Street
 Cars Carried in Stormwater
 Danger to Residents, First Responders
and Utility Employees

21.  Provides for Better Risk Management
› Avoids Sewer Line Issue on Elm St.
 Sewer line crosses over to east side of Elm St. at
Louisville alley
 Sewer line located under Kentucky St.
› Locates Feeder Away from Major
Stormwater Flows – Kentucky St. not in Arroyo
› Protects Customers, 1st Responders, Utility
Workers

22.  Aids in Preventing Major Power Outage
caused by Damaged Feeder Line
 Minimizes Risk to EPE Emergency
Personnel
 Great PR! … Shows that EPE Truly Cares
about:
› Customer Safety
› Improving Reliability by Mitigating Risk
› Impact on El Paso’s Heritage through Historic
Preservation