Here's where you'll find why it is so important to keep Right of Ways corridors (where electrical towers or wood poles are located) and power lines clear.
We're Committed to Providing You Safe and Reliable Service
PECO is committed to keeping power lines clear of limbs, trees, vines and other vegetation before they have a chance to do some damage and cause power outages or cause serious injury or death. Although any power outage is inconvenient, outages also threaten the safety of the community when much needed power is interrupted.
Our goal is to provide safe and reliable service to our customers by maintaining vegetation along power lines on a scheduled maintenance. We take this responsibility very seriously, because our customers need electric power all the time-day and night, in good weather and bad.
Why We Need To Keep The Lines Clear
Prevention is Preferred -- Utilities do what is necessary to provide safe, reliable, and cost effective electric service. Trimming trees is sometimes the only solution in dangerous situations. The closer a tree grows to high-voltage lines the more pruning is necessary. Only those branches that are likely to be a threat to reliability or safety are pruned during a five-year duration.
Our vegetation management contractors are specially trained and qualified to trim and remove trees in close proximity to electrical conductors. They are also trained in the proper arboricultural techniques. The pruning techniques utilized meet the standards set by the National Arborists Association and the International Society of Arboriculture.
Our line clearance contractors use the Natural Target Pruning method of tree trimming. The Natural Target Pruning Method also enables our line clearance professionals to customize trimming to meet the needs of individual tree species. The final shape of the tree(s) depends on their physical structure, growth rate, and proximity to the power lines. The results will be a more reliable energy source. Natural target pruning is directional trimming and promotes subsequent tree growth away from the wires.
Planting the right tree in the right place
The ideal way to prevent power lines and trees from ultimately getting in each other's way is to initially plant compatible varieties. PECO recommends trees and shrubs that grow to 25 feet in height or less, such as Hawthorn, Amur Maple, Tree Lilac, Eastern Redbud, Serviceberry and Flowering Crabapples. An example of trees that should not be planted under or adjacent to power lines include: Silver Maple, Norway Maple, Sugar Maple, Oak, Pine, Sycamore, Ash, Honey Locust, Willow, Linden and Spruce.
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Leave tree trimming to the pros
Tree trimming near electrical wires can be deadly. Only persons trained and qualified that meet ANSI and OSHA standards in the special techniques needed to work safely around energized lines should do so. Touching a branch that is in contact with an energized line can result in injury or death. For your safety, never attempt to trim or remove a tree that is growing near a power line. Instead, call 1-800-494-4000, and a PECO representative will check into the situation.
Storm Damaged Trees
During adverse weather conditions, property owner's trees may become damaged. This damage can be in the form of broken or split limbs or even uprooted trees. In a number of instances this damage impacts our facilities causing power outages and/or the destruction of our aerial equipment.
PECO's responsibility with all storm damaged trees is to remove them from our facilities to ensure future reliability. All storm debris removed from our facilities remains the responsibility of the property owner, be it public or private. PECO will not remove debris left during storm related work.
Right of Ways Maintenance
Right of Ways (ROWs) are the corridors where electrical towers or wood poles are located. The lines that run along rights of ways carry the transmission voltage electricity (66kV, 130kV, 200kV, 500kV). PECO either has an easement for these lines or the company owns the property where the lines are located.
In some areas, PECO mows the grass on the ROWs. The lines are mowed five times a year starting in late April. The ROWs are maintained as field mowing or meadow, not as a lawn or turf area. PECO does not spray the ROWs for broadleaf weeds such as Dandelion or ticks.
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Transmission Right of Way Vegetation Management
PECO has adopted the industry best practice for Right of Way vegetation management - known as the "Wire Zone - Border Zone" management technique.
This management technique is the result of more than 50 years of scientific research at State Game Lands 33, Pa., and Green Lane, Pa.
More information can be found at the Eastern Right of Way Consultants website: http://www.erowconsultants.com/index.htm
Large growing or incompatible trees are being cleared from transmission Right of Ways. In many instances, an area measuring at least 40 feet from the wires is being cleared.
By managing the vegetation in zones of varying vegetation heights, the diversity of habitat provided for wildlife is greatly enhanced, as is the diversity of plant species.
Individual landowners or customers are being notified in advance of any required work.
PECO recommends the following when designing or installing a landscape in a transmission corridor:
- The wire zone (under the wires and at least 10 feet to each side) may have grasses or herbaceous plants.
- The border zone (10 feed or more from the wires) may have grasses, herbaceous plants and low growing shrubs/trees (mature height less than 15 feet).
- Tall growing trees (mature height greater than 15 feet) should be located outside the Right of Way.
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