The accumulation of pollution from dust, salt, industrial emissions, and bird droppings on insulators can lead to a "flashover," where a high-voltage electrical arc travels across the contaminated surface, causing power outages and damaging equipment. For conductors, improper cleaning before splicing can lead to higher resistance joints, which heat up and cause premature failure. Regular cleaning is a critical form of preventive maintenance that ensures grid reliability, reduces outages, and extends the lifespan of expensive infrastructure.