Reliability: Vegetation Management Plays a Role

Tree contact with electric distribution lines is a leading cause of power outages. JCREMC invests annually in a robust Vegetation Management Program as part of our commitment to providing reliable electric services for our community.

Vegetation management crews trim trees throughout JCREMC’s service territory to clear rights-of-way and protect the equipment necessary to supply power to our members. Each year, these crews are able to trim trees and maintain vegetation in approximately one-third of our territory. That means crews perform vegetation management for the entire territory on a three-year rotation.

These crews can also be called out to assist with outage restoration if trees or large limbs fall on power lines, poles, or other equipment.

While many of the trees that require trimming are along roadsides or in rural areas, sometimes residential trees have to be trimmed to remove them from the right-of-way. JCREMC makes every effort to notify homeowners when their trees are up for trimming. Decisions about which trees to trim are made based on electrical safety and reliability.

Decades of diligent vegetation management have significantly reduced the number of outages and threats of outages from falling trees and limbs.

JCREMC members also have a role to play in reducing vegetation threats to reliability. Never plant anything more than small ornamental trees under overhead lines. And always remember to call 811 to locate underground utilities before you dig to make sure you don’t encounter buried electric distribution lines.

Members can submit tree-trimming requests at jcremc.com/tree-trimming.

Which trees need removed?

While many trees are able to be trimmed, some need to be removed. For example:

• Dying or Unstable Trees.
• Volunteer trees that have grown or will grow too large and encroach on rights-of-way.
• Trees near overhead lines at homes, schools, or parks, where children might climb.
• Trees impeding access to pad-mounted underground equipment.

Spring 2020 – Download the PDF version.