Downed power lines can knock out power for hours at a time, and during exceptionally hot or cold periods, this can be a disaster for customers. One startup has developed a solution that brings temporary power to the distribution grid while restoration crews can focus on their end of the deal.
A participant in this year’s DTECH Initiate program, Rapid Pole provides a temporary, backup power pole for outages and emergencies. The poles are meant to be rapidly deployed in the event of a downed line, and include a telescopic pole that is operated from the ground, and can also include a pad mount transformer for generator back feed.
The solution can be set up and operational in 30 minutes, according to Eversource, which uses the poles. The Rapid Pole is attached to a single axle tactical trailer designed to get to trouble spots quickly. The pole can telescope as high as 48 feet, and it is capable of holding up to 3,000 pounds of vertical weight. Eversource has deployed the poles numerous times over the past few years, temporarily restoring power to hundreds of affected customers.
“Rapid Pole is redefining outage response by enabling faster power restoration — providing temporary service while permanent repairs are made. This proven solution minimizes outage time, enhances customer satisfaction, and empowers crews to restore power safely and efficiently,” said Tim McHugh, Rapid Pole’s director of sales. “We’re thrilled to be part of the 2025 Initiate program. This platform gives us the opportunity to showcase how our technology is revolutionizing power restoration. It’s exciting to connect with industry leaders, share our vision, and be part of the next wave of energy innovation.”
In a recent LinkedIn post, McHugh detailed an incident that occurred over this year’s Super Bowl weekend. A car accident knocked a transmission tower into a distribution line, leaving more than 800 customers without electricity or heat during freezing temperatures. Eversource Energy and Prime Power Rentals had Rapid Poles ready to deploy, however, and were able to connect mobile primary risers to the distribution line, away from the damage. The Rapid Poles were able to back-feed power from generators for nearly 30 hours while crews worked on restoration.
Initiate is your gateway to discovering the up-and-coming innovations in the energy sector at DTECH. Witness firsthand how startups are transforming the industry, and stop by to hear the newest solutions on the market, breakthrough technologies, and connect with innovators from across the globe. It’s the perfect opportunity to explore fresh ideas and connect with the future of transmission and distribution!
Check out these other startups participating in the Initiate program that you won’t want to miss at DTECH!
- This startup wants to help utilities get more out of their transmission lines with drones
- A startup is trying to predict and prevent outages before they occur
- This startup is giving utilities more control at the grid edge without costly retrofits
- One software solution to rule them all: How a startup is enabling utility compliance
- What supply chain constraints? This startup’s long-duration batteries are powered by molten salt
- Downed power lines? This startup can deploy a temporary restoration solution in minutes
- ‘Task the Learjet like a satellite’ – This startup offers fast, high-altitude remote sensing
- Are your battery systems missing revenue opportunities? This startup wants to help
- This startup’s EV chargers mount to utility poles for recharging in dense urban areas
This list will be updated as more startups are featured.
