I recently retired from an electric utility after 35 years. We have not been using creosote treated poles for many years. They are now basically the same as the normal pressure treated ground contact lumber. With creosote poles, the treatment tended to migrate down toward the base of the pole, and the tops would rot out or get severe woodpecker damage. Now, with the new poles, the decay problem is just below the ground line. We had a few poles where the bases stayed submerged in water most or all the time, and I have never heard of one of them rotting at the bottom.
