The overhead electrical delivery system at NOVEC consists of more than 55,000 wood, fiberglass, steel, and concrete poles as well as hundreds of miles of electrical wire. The right-of-way department utilizes wood pole inspection crews from Osmose and TMS to visually inspect all poles on the system every 10 years. As part of the inspection process, poles are dug around at the base and checked for wood decay.

Some poles may need to be replaced after inspection, while some are treated with a vapor fumigant to help preserve the pole from decay. Newly examined poles are date stamped and may have freshly excavated dirt at the base.