Exo

Every 18 days, wind and weather events
cause more than $1 billion in damage.

And nearly 80% of that damage is tied to failed overhead power line structures.

That should get every utility cooperative, municipality, and infrastructure owner’s attention.

Hurricane season is an infrastructure liability concern.

The strongest storm response starts before the storm ever forms. That means identifying vulnerable structures, inspecting critical assets, prioritizing risk, and addressing where you are most vulnerable before it fails.

It’s not too late to build storm resilience on your system.

It is built in advance.

Before the storm or after the storm, Exo can help inspect, assess, and support the infrastructure decisions that keep systems stronger, safer, and more reliable.

Post storm assessments…
Are critical.

After a major storm, the first priority is always safety and restoration.

But once immediate hazards are addressed, infrastructure owners need more than a visual damage review.

They need to know what failed, what was weakened, and what could become the next failure point.

Storm damage is not always limited to what is already on the ground.

Structures that remain standing may still have compromised components, damaged connections, movement at the base, or stress-related issues that need to be evaluated.

That is where post-storm inspection becomes critical.

Exo supports utilities before and after major weather events with inspection, assessment, and field data and restoration services designed to help owners make informed decisions.

Before the storm or after the storm, the goal is the same:

Reduce risk.
Improve reliability.
Protect the system.

What we see...
A crack waiting to happen....

The details matter when it comes to constructing new utility poles.

3/16th of an inch is acceptable when it comes to a gap in the arm attachment.
However, an Exo inspector observed that this pole has a 1/4-inch gap, which will increase the risk of failure over the life of this structure.

Failed arms are an issue that we have seen result in major outages and loss of millions.

Utilities and EPC firms should always hire a qualified 3rd party to be their eyes in the plant.

The manufacturers we work with are typically exceptional. However, with the current demand and aggressive schedules, their teams need all the support they can get.

What we see…
Hidden risk…

Overhead power line structures of all types and ages have hidden risks…
This is a steel lattice tower. These towers are critical to our nation’s power grid for the safe transmission of electric power.

When Exo takes a closer look at the feet of one lattice tower structure, this is what we find:
85% section loss means 85% of the steel material has degraded due to corrosion at a critical point.

In this case, the deterioration occurs at the foundation, where the feet of the tower are.
When a steel lattice tower is at this stage, failure is waiting to happen.

The great news is, it’s not too late. These towers do not have to fail, nor do they have to be taken out of service to be replaced. They can be restored, with engineered reinforcement that will extend the useful life of these structures for decades.

The operate-to-failure mentality is a thing of the past for many of the utilities we serve, because with demand being what it is, none of us can afford the time or money to replace structures that can be safely restored, upgraded, and kept in service for a fraction of the time and cost.

The risk is clear…
Corrosion in the steel compromised safety...

This corrosion started years ago. A proactive assessment and remediation program would have mitigated the risk long before exposing the public, employees, and the internal conductors and connections within the pole to potential failure.

Exo resolved the issue by restoring strength with a custom “LBT” (Load Transfer Bracket), designed to transfer the load bearing from the base plate, where integrity is compromised, to the healthy portion of the pole.

This is a safe, affordable solution until the pole can be permanently replaced.

Exo’s safe light pole program is proactive and saves asset owners from the risk of liability, property damage, and harm to people.

What you don’t know can cost you, and importantly, what you aren’t willing to do can cost others as well.

Hidden risk is everywhere--
even in new utility structures…

Quality escapes, like cracking along the weld (see image), are easily overlooked even by the best manufacturers without a trained third-party inspector.

Quality escapes in production account for a large percentage of structural integrity issues, which can ultimately lead to catastrophic failure in the field.

Our manufacturing partners are doing exceptional work every day, addressing the growing demand for overhead power line structures. It is impossible to catch every quality issue without the support of a qualified third-party inspector to collaborate, partner, and support their existing QA/QC programs

What We See…

A lighting pole in a parking lot or pedestrian walkway is typically invisible to the public…

The pole in the image at a major big-box retailer has some history…

The structural condition of this pole was compromised last year by a vehicle impact. Exo installed an engineered reinforcement bracket to transfer the load on this pole. The bracket restored the pole's strength and made the environment safe for employees and customers. It was a success.

However, the same pole was hit again, causing minor damage to the foundation, bending the anchor bolts, and damaging the pole shaft and electric box. The pole remained standing.

Exo will assess the structural capacity of the damaged pole with the facility leaders immediately to make the site safe and install a replacement pole.

In addition, since there is a pattern of vehicular damage on this structure, additional protective measures will be explored to increase safety and save time, money, and resources in the future.

When most leaders hear “fire wrap,” they often think:
“That’s probably only for extreme-risk utilities.”

But is it?

As wildfire zones expand, one controversial question emerges...
Will fire-resistant pole protection become the new baseline expectation for utilities operating in vulnerable regions?

Because if:
• Undergrounding is too expensive
• Full replacement is too slow
• Vegetation alone isn’t enough

…then practical hardening measures may move from “special project” to “standard operating procedure.”
Could future regulators or insurers eventually ask why vulnerable poles weren’t protected?

Utilities are committed.
However, they do often lack full system visibility.

Without deep assessment:
• Which poles are most vulnerable?
• Which corridors are highest consequence?
• Which mitigation investments matter most?

This raises an uncomfortable but necessary question:
Can leaders truly manage wildfire exposure they cannot fully see?

Fire wrap may be one tool...
But visibility must come first.

Fourth of July weekend is one of the busiest travel windows of the year, which means more people on the road, longer drive times, and a higher risk of distractions.

As you head out for the holiday weekend, safety needs to stay front and center.

A few reminders:

- Leave early when you can.
- Expect traffic and delays.
- Put the phone away.
- Watch for tired or impatient drivers.
- Buckle up every time.
- Give yourself room, slow down, and do not rush the trip.

From all of us at Exo, have a safe and happy Fourth of July.