Orange-based United Illuminating said it will inspect 140,000 utility poles over the next six years.
UI said the goal of the inspections will be maintenance. It will replace poles deemed vulnerable to damage from storms and other extreme events. It estimated that approximately 3 percent of the poles could be replaced.
UI has hired Osmose Utilities Services to do the inspections, which began last month in Hamden. Next up are Woodbridge and New Haven.
UI owns about 85,000 of the poles, while the it leases space on the remaining 55,000.
