At Bartholomew County REMC, we’re committed to providing you with reliable power. There are some things we can’t stop — high winds, thunderstorms, ice storms — but we do what we can to prevent the main outage culprit: TREES. Vegetation — trees, shrubs, brush — growing too close to power lines and distribution equipment mainly lead to these power interruptions.

To “cut back” on potential tree-related problems we operate an aggressive vegetation management/right-of-way maintenance program. We currently keep a five-year cycle for our full territory, so you will see us trimming your area every five years.

In 2024, trimming will be done in the Knollwood and Elizabethtown areas. BCREMC has an utility easement on each side of the pole to perform the proper trimming, 15 feet on each side of the pole for a three-phase line, and 10 feet on each side of the pole for single phase.

Tree trimmers will trim foliage growing under lines, overhanging branches and trees that could grow into lines. We will also remove trees that are directly under the lines. We pay special attention to dying, dead, diseased or other types of danger trees that could pull down power lines if they fall. In most cases, these trees will need to be removed or made safe from falling onto the lines.

If you have trees on your property that need to be trimmed or made safe due to these concerns, you will be contacted accordingly.

Keep in mind, the following year we come back and spray the undergrowth with an environmentally conscious herbicide that is not harmful to humans or animals.

In working to keep a safe, reliable, and affordable supply of power flowing to your home or business, we need your help. Let us know if you notice trees or branches that might pose a risk to our power lines. Thank you for your understanding as we work to make our system reliable for our members.