Celanese–Peters Mountain 138kV Line: A Case Study of One of American Electric Power’s Oldest Weathering Steel Pole Lines

The use of weathering steel, or Cor-ten®, for transmission line structures appeals to many utilities. This is partly due to its ability to blend in with the environment. It’s also slightly lower in initial cost due to eliminating the need for galvanizing. Celanese – Peters Mountain is an approximately 20 year old 138kV weathering steel tubular pole line located on American Electric Power’s (AEP’s) system in western Virginia. The line is showing signs of heavy corrosion. The environment is characterized by steep terrain, heavy vegetation and humid conditions. An arm failure on one of the structures initially led to the discovery of corrosion issues on this line. In this paper, we will discuss the nature of the corrosion found, the criticalness to the structural integrity of the poles, the repairs performed, modifications of our standard pole details, and the inspection and maintenance programs. This line is being used as a case study for other AEP weathering steel lines located in the region.