Trees are majestic, beautiful, and good for our community. But we also know that you, our members, depend on us to deliver reliable power to your homes and businesses. BCREMC strives to balance maintaining our green surroundings with ensuring reliable electricity. You might not realize it, but there are several benefits to regular tree trimming.

RELIABILITY

Keeping power lines clear of overgrown vegetation improves service reliability. After all, we’ve seen the whims of Mother Nature during severe weather events, with fallen tree limbs taking down power lines and utility poles. While many factors can impact power disruptions, most outages can be attributed to trees during storms. This is why you see our contractors out in our territory trimming trees that are endangering our power lines. Tree trimming crews hired by BCREMC have been trained and certified based on the latest industry standards. All U.S. electric utilities are required to trim trees that grow too close to power lines.

SAFETY

Working near power lines can be dangerous, and we care about your safety and that of our lineworkers. For example, if trees are touching power lines in our members’ yards, they can pose a serious threat to families. If children can reach those trees, they can potentially climb into a danger zone. Electricity can arc or jump from a power line to a nearby conductor, such as a tree.

Any tree or branch that falls across a power line creates a potentially dangerous situation. A proactive approach lessens the chances of fallen trees, which makes it more complicated, dangerous, and time-consuming for lineworkers to restore power.

AFFORDABILITY

As a co-op, we always strive to keep costs down for our members. Plus, we all know it’s more cost-effective to undertake preventative maintenance than to make repairs after the fact. If trees and other vegetation are left unchecked, they can become overgrown and expensive to correct. A strategic vegetation management program helps keep costs down for everyone.

There are ways you can help, too. When planting new trees this spring, ensure they’re planted a safe distance from overhead power lines. You can also practice safe planting near pad-mounted transformers. Always remember to contact 811 before you begin any project that requires digging. Also, if you spot an overgrown tree or branch dangerously close to overhead lines, please let us know.

We have deep roots in our community and love our beautiful surroundings. It takes a balanced approach, and our vegetation management program is crucial in ensuring safe, reliable service. Happy spring!