We know that our members depend on us to provide the electricity they need to power their lives. We believe the best time to fix a power outage is before it ever happens. That’s why we design our system with built-in reliability measures, and we conduct routine inspection and maintenance like pole inspections and right-of-way vegetation control.
At Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, we strive to balance maintaining beautiful surroundings and ensuring a reliable power supply by keeping power lines clear in rights of way (ROW). While we recognize and appreciate the beauty of trees, there are three main benefits to tree trimming in ROW areas: Safety, Reliability, and Affordability.
From a safety aspect, overgrown vegetation and trees pose a risk to power lines. For example, if trees are touching power lines in our members’ yards, they can pose a grave danger to families. If children can access those trees, they can potentially climb into a danger zone. Electricity can arc, or jump, from a power line to a nearby conductor like a tree. A proactive approach also diminishes the chances of fallen branches or trees during severe weather events that make it more complicated and dangerous for line technicians to restore power.
Of course, one of the biggest benefits of a proactive vegetation management program is reliability. Strategic tree trimming reduces the frequency of downed lines causing power outages. Generally speaking, healthy trees don’t fall on power lines, and clear lines don’t cause problems. Proactive trimming and pruning keep lines clear to promote reliability. At Edgecombe-Martin County EMC, trees are the number one cause of power outages at 43 percent of disruptions. Following closely behind are animal-related outages at 21 percent, weather-related incidents at 12 percent, and car accidents at 2 percent. Equipment malfunctions account for 10 percent of outages, leaving the remaining 12 percent attributed to miscellaneous reasons.
This breakdown not only underscores the critical impact of vegetation management but also emphasizes the diverse challenges we navigate in ensuring an uninterrupted power supply. By understanding these nuances, we empower ourselves to implement targeted strategies that enhance the resilience and dependability of our power infrastructure.
As you know, Edgecombe-Martin County EMC is a not-for-profit cooperative, and that means we strive to keep our costs in check in order to keep our rates affordable. This extends to our approach to vegetation management. If trees grow too close to power lines, the potential for expensive repairs also increases. Effective tree trimming and other vegetation management efforts keep costs down for everyone.
Edgecombe-Martin County EMC uses various techniques for actively managing our right-of-ways. Our right-of-ways are managed on a four-year rotation, so we can continually address vegetation growth across our entire distribution and transmission systems.
A large part of our distribution system right-of-way is pruned using bucket trucks and personnel that are trained in cutting around power lines. This same method is used for trimming around service drops on a member’s property. You may see some tall equipment being used for trimming as well, which is called sky trimming. This equipment allows the tree trimmers to work in the most difficult terrain where only climbing crews could go before. Another method we use to manage our right-of-ways is the selective spraying of herbicides. Contract crews that are licensed and experienced will spray areas to help reduce the need for cutting and mowing right-of-ways in specific areas.
Investing in right of way maintenance is not just about keeping the landscape tidy—it’s a strategic effort to ensure a safe, reliable and resilient power supply. By understanding the costs involved and the direct impact on preventing outages, we can make informed decisions that benefit both the co-op members and the communities we serve. By actively managing our right-of-ways through techniques such as tree trimming, sky trimming, bushhogging, and herbicide spraying, we not only ensure the safety and reliability of our power lines but also contribute to cost-effective operations. We recognize the critical impact of vegetation management on preventing outages and lowering the risk of expensive repairs, allowing us to keep our costs in check and rates affordable for our co-op members.