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Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) electric system delivers safe, reliable energy to customers throughout Northern and Central California. Our electric transmission system has more than 18,000 miles of transmission lines that transport energy from generation sources to local communities.
Transmission towers are critical to our energy infrastructure. To make sure we continue to safely deliver power to customers, our Tower Coating Program proactively protects and maintains transmission towers throughout our service territory. We do this by coating towers with a non-lead-based paint, which helps protect them from corrosion.
Tower Coating Program Fact Sheet (PDF, 477 KB)
For the health and safety of our customers, employees and the environment, PG&E’s Tower Coating Program is covering electric transmission towers throughout our service territory with a non-lead-based paint.
We reviewed nearly 46,000 transmission towers across our service territory and identified roughly 6,000 towers coated with lead-based paint. We’re coating these towers with non-lead-based paint to make them more environmentally responsible for our communities.
To date, we’ve addressed nearly half of those towers identified as containing lead-based paint. We’re also conducting minor maintenance or coating work identified during routine inspections on other towers across the service territory.
We take our responsibility to maintain and upgrade our infrastructure seriously. We want our customers to be informed of this work, every step of the way. Below is information about what our work involves and what customers can expect if they receive notice that we’ll be coating a tower on or near their property.
What to expect
This work won’t affect electric service in any way.
Safety measures will be always in place, including all necessary COVID-19 precautions.
Work will be completed by trained crews using specialized equipment.
Customers won’t need to be present during this work.
Vegetation may need to be trimmed or removed to complete this work safely.
Property owners won’t incur any out-of-pocket expenses.
We will contact customers in advance to notify them of any planned work on their property.
Have a question about the Tower Coating Program? Click on a question below to learn more. You can also call us at 1-888-208-6010 or email us at towers@pge.com with any questions you may have.
Download the Tower Coating Program FAQ (PDF, 73 KB)
WHAT’S PG&E DOING WITH ITS TOWERS?
PG&E’s transmission towers are critical to our energy infrastructure. To make sure we continue to safely deliver power to customers, our Tower Coating Program proactively protects and maintains transmission towers throughout our service territory. We do this by coating towers with non-lead-based paint to protect them from corrosion.
We reviewed nearly 46,000 transmission towers across our service territory to determine the coating type. We identified roughly 6,000 towers with lead-based paint. We’re coating those towers with non-lead-based paint to make them safer and more environmentally responsible for our communities.
We’re also conducting any minor maintenance or coating work identified during routine inspections on other towers across the service territory.
WHAT DOES THIS WORK INVOLVE?
This work involves trained crew members climbing and coating the tower with non-lead-based paint. Crews will use special equipment, hand-held tools and vacuums to complete this work. Each tower typically takes three to five days to coat. Prior to coating the tower, vegetation on or near the tower may need to be trimmed or removed to safely conduct this work.
While work is underway, we’ll make sure that all proper safety measures are in place to protect the health of our customers, workers and the environment. Safety measures include:
- Implementing all necessary COVID-19 measures
- Cleaning and inspecting the work area and cloth tarps at the end of each day
- Removing peeling paint and using vacuums to immediately catch debris as it’s removed from the tower
- Placing tarps under and around the tower to capture any loose paint or debris
- Ensuring proper disposal of paint debris and plastic tarps
HOW LONG WILL THIS PROGRAM TAKE?
We’re committed to conducting this work in a safe and timely manner with no interruptions in service and minimal disruption to our customers. Based on our current plan, we anticipate completing the remaining towers in the next few years.
WHO WILL YOU BE USING TO DO THIS WORK?
PG&E crews, as well as contractors that have met safety standards required by PG&E, will conduct this important work.