Our manager panel discusses laminated poles
Every other month we ask our electric co-op manager panel a question, many of which are provided by our readers.
Our panel for 2026 is Matt Haggerty, manager of Park Electric Cooperative in Livingston; Trevor Parke, manager of Vigilante Electric Cooperative in Dillon; and Brad Bauman, manager of Sun River Electric Cooperative in Fairfield
This month’s question is:
Q: “Here in the Bitterroot, we have laminated poles, some of which are huge.”
Does your co-op use them? When does a laminated pole make sense? What are the advantages and disadvantages of these poles?
– Inspired by a letter from Tom Elbert, Victor, Ravalli Electric
Cooperative member
Brad Bauman
Sun River Electric Cooperative
We do use laminated poles at Sun River Electric.
The advantages of these engineered poles are the ability to use them in tight right-of-way locations. These poles do not require down guys because of the engineered camber that is built into them. This makes them a safer choice in areas frequented by vehicles, four-wheelers, side-by-side vehicles or snowmobiles.
The lack of down guys also makes these poles attractive in areas where farming activities would place the down guys in fields that are needed to be cultivated. Another benefit is the condition referred to as pole rot. Laminated poles are less likely to experience pole rot versus a wood pole.
The downside of these poles is the cost. Laminated poles cost about five times the amount of a similar-sized wood pole.
The added cost of a down guy, anchor plate and associated hardware brings this price gap closer, but it is still significantly different. The pole size is considerably larger, but the benefits outweigh the negatives under most conditions.
Trevor Parke
Vigilante Electric Cooperative
Vigilante Electric uses laminated poles for specialized applications where limited access and higher structural demands make traditional poles less practical. These engineered poles provide exceptional strength and stability, making them an ideal solution for powerlines with sharp angles or heavy tension loads, where guying is not feasible.
Their modular design also offers significant logistical advantages. Larger laminated poles are easier to transport than comparable one-piece traditional poles, especially in remote or hard-to-reach locations. Unlike conventional wood poles, laminated poles use multiple layers of wood bonded together to create a pole that resists cracking, twisting and warping. This design ensures consistent performance throughout their service lives. In areas with limited rights-of-way or challenging terrain, laminated poles — or even steel structures — may be the only practical solution.
Another key advantage is their preservation process. Laminated poles are treated throughout the entire structure rather than just the outer shell, providing enhanced resistance to rot and decay. This comprehensive protection extends the pole’s service life, making laminated poles an excellent long-term investment for locations where construction or future replacement would be difficult and costly.
While laminated poles offer clear performance benefits, they are best suited for specific applications. They typically cost more than traditional wood poles and require specialized installation procedures that crews must carefully follow. Because each pole is engineered for specific height and loading requirements, utilities must also maintain matching replacement poles in their inventory to ensure compatibility if a pole is ever damaged and needs to be replaced.
Matt Haggerty
Park Electric Cooperative
Park Electric does use laminated poles in certain locations on our system. Laminated poles are typically used where additional strength is needed, such as at sharp angles or dead-end structures, or where there is limited space for guy wires. To provide the best answer, I reached out to our engineering firm to learn more about when and why they recommend these poles.
Unlike a standard utility pole, a laminated pole is designed to be self-supporting, meaning it doesn’t require guy wires and anchors for stability. While these poles are often larger at the base, their overall footprint is actually smaller because they eliminate the need for guy wires, which can extend a considerable distance from the pole, depending on its height, and require ground anchors. A standard pole may require anywhere from one to six guy wires, and if a guy wire is damaged or fails, it can affect the stability of the pole and potentially cause an outage.
Advantages of laminated poles:
- Require less easement because no guy wires or anchors are needed.
- Improve reliability by eliminating guy wires that can be damaged or fail.
- Are sometimes the only practical engineering solution for a specific location.
Disadvantages of laminated poles:
- Cost more than standard poles with guy wires.
- Often require heavier equipment to install.
- Can be more noticeable because they are typically larger.
Every pole installed on our system is selected based on engineering standards, safety, reliability and the conditions at that specific location. While laminated poles aren’t needed everywhere, they provide an effective solution where traditional guyed poles aren’t the best fit.