Going off on a tangent somewhat from the earth issue, but EDF's response to trouble reports on their network around here seems to be quite mixed and something of a crap-shoot as to whether it's dealt with quickly or not. Case #1: Neighbor calls to me, smoke billowing from a splice to concentric at the top of the pole just outside his back door. Called EDF, they were here within about two hours to effect repairs.
Case #2: Pole just inside my front fence which has an underground feed from the sub a few yards away and then distributes power both directions along the road. The mountings for the old cast iron cable head finally gave way during some strong winds one night, with all the expected sparks etc. until the head settled into a position where it was being supported by just the incoming cable and tails to the overheads. Called EDF to report it. Took several days before a guy came out just to look at it and said he'd send in a maintenance request. Several weeks passed before a crew rolled up with a bucket truck to do a temporary lash-up with cable ties. Months later, another couple of EDF guys turned up to "assess" what was to be done. It was then almost a year before independent contractors working for EDF showed up to actually do the final repair. Had to have been about 18 months or so in total.
Case #3: Guy wire on the same pole corroded and went out to find it across my driveway one morning. Called EDF, who arrived later the same day to fix it then and there (while the cable head was still lashed to the pole with ties).
