City Light to inspect metal streetlights for shock hazards to dogs

Superintendent Jorge Carrasco of Seattle City Light announced plans to inspect and make repairs, if necessary, to any of the 20,000 metal streetlight poles and 10,000 metal “hand holes” (small streetlight vault covers) in the utility’s service territory.

Last month a dog stepped on an energized metal plate covering a small streetlight vault on Queen Anne Avenue and was electrocuted.  Last Monday, City Light received a call from a customer in the High Point area who was concerned that there might be a faulty streetlight in her neighborhood.

Most of the streetlights in Shoreline and LFP seem to be mounted on wooden utility poles and the newer metal poles do not seem to be a problem, but dog walkers should be aware of the potential danger.