To Anyone Knowledgeable about Power Lines...

[APlotdevice]

I just noticed that that electricity is arcing between the metal bits holding three wires to a nearby pole. Is this something I should report to the electrical company?

 

[S.B.G]

I would certainly call them, it can't hurt to let them know what you see. To the best of my knowledge, we shouldn't be seeing arching electricity in the open air on the power grid.

 

[kingalexthe1st]

Electrical arcing isn't uncommon in cables, but it could also be because of a fault in the lines. Reporting it won't do any harm, so contacting the electrical company is a good idea just in case. Just don't stare at it for long, it's been known to cause sunburn on the eyeballs!

Alex

 

[maflynn]

It can't hurt to call, if its normal, nothing will occur, but if something is wrong with the pole, wires, etc. Then you saved yourself incurring a black out if that suddenly failed and/or preventing someone getting hurt

 

[obeygiant]

Was it like this? 😀

 

[S.B.G]

^^ That's one heck of a Jacob's Ladder! 😎

 

[b-rad g]

I just noticed that that electricity is arcing between the metal bits holding three wires to a nearby pole. Is this something I should report to the electrical company?

Yes definitely call them and let them know. It is NOT supposed to be doing that.

 

[Apple fanboy]

YouTube: video

Was it like this? 😀

I wish my local area had issues like that. It would make for a cool photo!

 

[S.B.G]

I wish my local area had issues like that. It would make for a cool photo!

Maybe a cool photo, but the potential damage to electronics and/or the loss of a home due to fire wouldn't be as cool...

 

[jav6454]

I just noticed that that electricity is arcing between the metal bits holding three wires to a nearby pole. Is this something I should report to the electrical company?

Electrical Engineer here. Most certainly that is a big issue. Arcing should not happen.

 

[balamw]

It's also a problem the FCC might be interested in. The arcing can cause radio interference, so should definitely be seen too!

http://www.fcc.gov/guides/interference-defining-source

B

 

[S.B.G]

It's also a problem the FCC might be interested in. The arcing can cause radio interference, so should definitely be seen too!

B

Very true. The added electromagnetic energy in the open air like that can suck in RF and cause TX/RX interference, especially in low power devices.