Electric lines and trees
don’t mix!
Here in Sequachee Valley
Electric Cooperative’s service area our trees are one of our most valuable and
well-loved resources. We live in one of the most beautiful areas of the world
and the abundance of trees are a big part of that beauty. However, when those
trees are allowed to grow into the power lines we begin to have problems with
electric reliability. Or in simple terms, we have trouble keeping the lights
from blinking or going off.
It’s not only the trees
that grow into the lines that give up problems, it’s also trees that are close
enough to fall into lines or have branches fall into the lines that are
problems. The squirrels that live in the trees are an additional problem, but
that is another story.
We at SVEC are committed to
our core business of providing reliable electric service to the residents and
businesses of our service area. To do this we must manage our right of
way. While no one likes to see trees cut down or pruned severely, no one likes
their lights to blink or go out either.
To help SVEC do a
better job of keeping outages to a minimum, the cooperative recently contracted
with Environmental Consultants, Inc. (ECI) to help manage the nearly 2,300 miles
of right-of-way (ROW) on the electric distribution system.
Based upon a detailed review
and assessment of our electric distribution system, SVEC has adopted a
cycle-based program. This means clearing and pruning the entire length of a
power line on a regular basis instead of trimming only a small section of the
line or individual trees. This will allow SVEC's line clearance contractors to
work more efficiently, and continue to improve system reliability.
This cycle trimming
program will improve electric service to all members who get their power along
the circuit being trimmed. However, to achieve the kind of reliability our
members demand, we must clear enough to keep the trees out of the line for more
than just one or two years, as we have in the past. The patience and cooperation
of our members in this process will be needed to make the program work
SVEC and ECI are
scheduled to begin the program trimming within the city limits of Dunlap this
week. The plan is to clear all of the electric lines within the city limits by
December of 2004.
A representative from SVEC
will leave a “door hanger” card at each residence in advance of the work to
notify the homeowners that we will be working on their property.