Members depend on York Electric to deliver safe, reliable power to their homes and businesses. An important part of meeting that responsibility is regularly trimming trees in our rights-of-way.
Crews will begin trimming in the Lesslie and Ogden areas of Rock Hill to continue maintaining our five-year right-of-way rotation. You might not realize it, but there are several benefits to regular tree trimming.
Reliability
While many factors can impact power disruptions, many outages can be attributed to overgrown vegetation. This is why you sometimes see York Electric crews or contractors out in the community trimming trees near power lines. Trimming crews have been trained and certified based on the latest industry standards.
In fact, electric utilities are required to trim trees that grow too close to power lines. Scheduled trimming throughout the year keeps lines clear from overgrown or dead limbs that are likely to fall, and we are better able to prepare for severe weather events. It’s also more cost-effective to undertake preventative maintenance than it is to make repairs after the fact.
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 could create a potential hazard to the members or the public.
Any tree or branch that falls across a power line creates a potentially dangerous situation. A proactive approach lessens the chances of fallen trees during severe weather events that make it more complicated and dangerous for lineworkers to restore power.
Affordability
York Electric always tries to keep costs down for our members. 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.
You can help
There are ways you can help too. When planting new trees, make sure they’re planted a safe distance from overhead power lines.
- Medium-height trees (40 feet or smaller) should be planted at least 25 ft. from power lines.
- Taller trees (over 40 feet) should be planted at least 50 feet from power lines.
- When planting near pad-mounted transformers, plant shrubs at least 10 feet from the transformer door and 4 feet from the sides.
- Remember to contact 811 before you begin any project that requires digging.
- If you spot an overgrown tree or branch that’s dangerously close to overhead lines, please let us know. Take a picture and tell us the location in an email to memberservices@yorkelectric.net or call member services at (803) 684-4248.