HOUSTON — A leaning utility pole was removed in the Montrose area after KHOU 11 Consumer Investigative Reporter Grace White started making calls.
“Not knowing what to do, we started calling the City of Houston at 311, they said they don’t do poles, to call CenterPoint Energy,” said Gilles Dumont, who explained he had been calling to report the safety hazard on Barnard Street for two months.
He was worried the pole could fall and hurt someone because it was leaning right over a sidewalk near a school.
Eventually, Dumont was told to try Comcast.
“They told us it was removed,” Dumont said. “I started joking with the lady, unless I’m having hallucinations that pole is still there.”
KHOU 11’s Grace White called Comcast and three hours later they sent a crew out to take the pole down.
A spokesman told White the pole wasn’t theirs, but because it was connected to their cable line, Comcast decided to take it down.
“Hallelujah – problem solved,” Dumont said.
CenterPoint Energy confirmed to KHOU 11 that the pole on Barnard Street did not belong to them either. A spokeswoman released the following statement:
Whether it is a streetlight that may be out, damaged pole or potential issue with CenterPoint Energy equipment, we encourage our customers to say something if they see something. We can be reached at 713-207-2222 or toll free at 1-800-332-7143. If the equipment does not belong to CenterPoint Energy, however, the owner of the equipment will need to be notified.”
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Email GraceCanHelp@khou.com or call (713) 521-HELP.
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