Con Ed data reports hazardous currents were found on 6,000 of the city’s 176,000 light poles in 2005 and 2006, or 3.5 percent of all the city’s light poles.

Reports of dangerous, high stray-voltage increased on Con Ed-maintained poles in 2006. Con Ed cut inspections last year when its workers were diverted by last summer’s nine-day Queens blackout. Con Ed says the pole inspections are back on track.

Two years ago, the city began covering the lower part of the poles with nonconductive paint. The city is also installing voltage indicators that light when a current is detected.

The state report said Con Ed-owned street-level boxes and other electrical equipment were twice as likely to have stray voltage as similar equipment elsewhere in the state.