As a newly registered member, (I love this site!) leaning utility (not telephone-LOL) poles are quite common. Usually caused by ground settling, incorrect pole class, improper tamping procedures and so on. Hopefully the utility owner would notice a substantial lean in a pole and make repairs, however a slight rake or lean is not uncommon. As far as what holds a pole in place, FYI, several factors come into play. Poles are in fact, set deep into the ground, determined by the length of the pole and the soil type, or rather the soils ability to "hold" the pole. For instance, a pole set in rock obviously need not be set as deep as a pole set in a marshy,sandy soil. There are other factors involved in the depth of the hole, but let's not get too involved, might put one to sleep. :-) Additionally, poles can and do get set in concrete when needed and in fact, they do make concrete utility poles. Just some FYI. For more information, you can find it in the Lineman's and Cableman's Handbook. Cheers!
