Did you know that six different power companies provide service in Beaufort County? Two electric co-ops, two municipal power companies and two investor-owned utilities. So figuring out who a utility pole belongs to can get confusing in some locations. In some cases, a pole may actually belong to a cable provider.

Above is a photo of a Tideland EMC pole tag. One can be found on each of the 43,317 poles Tideland owns and maintains. While a service address often will suffice when requesting service for your home or business, the pole tag is a good reference to use to report a street light that needs repair or bulb replacement. The pole tag can also be useful to request emergency service or report infrastructure damage when you aren’t sure of the location address.

One note of caution: maintain a safe distance from any pole that is leaning or has downed power lines. Safety is always our top priority.