Case Study
City of Lake Worth Beach Electric Utility
Utility: City of Lake Worth Beach Electric Utility
Location: Lake Worth Beach, Florida, United States
Infrastructure Type: Wood distribution poles
The City of Lake Worth Beach Electric Utility operates a municipal electric system serving a coastal Florida community where electrical infrastructure must withstand challenging environmental conditions, including hurricanes, high winds, heavy rainfall, humidity, and moisture exposure. Maintaining reliable service in this environment requires proactive strategies to strengthen aging pole infrastructure and protect against weather-related damage.
The Challenge
Utilities in coastal and tropical regions face ongoing stressors that can reduce the structural integrity and service life of wood utility poles. Key challenges include:
- High wind loads from hurricanes and tropical storms
- Heavy rain and prolonged moisture exposure
- Humid coastal conditions that accelerate deterioration
- Ground-line decay caused by fungi, soil microorganisms, and wet soil conditions
- Long-term structural aging of existing poles
Because the ground-line area carries significant structural load, deterioration in this zone can compromise the stability of the entire pole. Utilities are increasingly seeking cost-effective alternatives to premature pole replacement.
The Solution
GridWrap installed DEMIRWRAP® composite reinforcement on wood distribution poles within the Lake Worth Beach Electric Utility service territory to address both structural resilience and ground-line protection.
The reinforcement was applied to strengthen existing poles and protect vulnerable sections where deterioration commonly occurs. DEMIRWRAP® provides a high-strength composite barrier that:
- Reinforces existing pole structure
- Increases load-bearing capacity
- Helps seal wood surfaces from environmental exposure
- Reduces moisture intrusion in vulnerable areas
- Extends the usable life of existing infrastructure
Installation was completed using standard field procedures with minimal disruption to normal utility operations.
The Result
The project demonstrated that DEMIRWRAP® can be used as a proactive grid-hardening solution for wood poles in harsh coastal environments. Benefits include:
- Improved structural resilience under extreme weather conditions
- Enhanced protection against ground-line decay and moisture damage
- Extended service life of existing poles
- Reduced risk of pole failure
- Lower costs compared to full pole replacement
- Practical, field-applied reinforcement with minimal operational impact
By reinforcing poles before major deterioration or storm damage occurs, utilities can strengthen infrastructure, improve reliability, and better prepare for future weather events.