The project will have 3 stages:

- Stage 1: Offline assessment of materials and development of safe climbing methods

- Stage 2: Install poles (11kV and LV) on the SPEN Network

- Stage 3: Assessment/Audit of the results

Stage 1: Offline assessment of materials and development of safe climbing methods

There will be a trial installation at the SPEN training facility where safety and technical standards staff can develop and trial the working and climbing practices before any poles are introduced to the network for stage 2 of this project. This stage will also involve stakeholder engagement with the supplier and their appointed safe working consultancy to ensure “best practice” is being developed and adopted.

Stage 1 may result in the inability to develop a safe working practice and therefore stage 2 and 3 of the project will be cancelled. The business impact would result in either a request for further trials or the abandonment of any plans to use composite poles in SPEN

Stage 2: Install poles (11kV and LV) on the SPEN Network

The pilot will look to install composite poles in the Borders area of SPD supporting both LV and 11kV conductors. The working practices developed in stage 1 will be used to install and work on the composite poles in the field.

Stage 3: Assessment/Audit of the results

The final stage of the project will involve a detailed assessment of use of composite poles and recommendations for use. This will involve the installation team, design and standards and compliance team. This stage will also involve dissemination of the result to UK DNOs

1. Establish a safe working practice to allow climbing and work on composite poles
2. Identify any unforeseen issues when working with composite poles with both LV and 11kV conductors
3. Complete a report describing the positives and negatives of using composite poles compared to wood poles based on the feedback from the field trial