Trimming improves reliability
Potential accidents are all around us, especially when it comes to electricity. Whether it is inclement weather or another kind of safety hazard, YEC strives to keep you safe. That is why YEC implements the continual process of keeping our rights of way clear.
Did you know YEC maintains our right-of-way on a five-year rotation? While this timeline is tight, it is worth it to keep service reliable for our members.
In addition to cutting new rights-of-way for our Rural Internet Project, your co-op has continued to prioritize reliable service by maintaining distribution rights-of-way. This not only helps keep your power on, but it also helps improve safety and restoration efforts if outages occur.
We have established the following right-of-way maintenance schedule for the first quarter of 2025:
We will start the year by cutting everything on the Catawba Indian Reservation side of the Catawba River (part of Reservation Road, Indian Road, Greenwood Road, and part of Neely Store Road).
We will then move to the Lancaster County side of our system. We will begin with cutting all of South Lancaster, starting with Crow Road, Old Church Road., Van Wyck Road, Griffin Road, Steele Hill Road, and part of Waxhaw Highway. We will then move to Ander Vincent Road, another part of Waxhaw Highway, Jim Wilson Road, Green Pond Road., and part of Henry Harris Road).
Following our work in South Lancaster, we will move on to Collins Road, Henry Harris Road, Marvin Road, Stacy Howie Road, and Vance Baker Road.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to keep our lines clear of overgrown trees and debris, ultimately helping to decrease the possibility of outages.
Right of Way Maintenance FAQ
The ROW is cleared by cutting, trimming, mowing and where permissible, applying herbicides. In most cases, all shrubs, brush and trees are removed under primary (main), overhead power lines. They are also removed, as and around secondary, low-voltage power lines that bring power from the transformer to your meter. Cutting and trimming are done by trained, professional utility tree trimmers using specific and proven standards typical to the industry.
ROW refers to the corridor or pathway an electric line follows, whether it’s along the road or through the woods. ROW provides utility crews with access to lines for improvements, maintenance, and repairs. It also provides an operational safety zone between the electric lines and trees, buildings, etc. On the majority of its lines, York Electric holds easements that give it the right to clear land 15 feet from either side of the wire.
A clear ROW minimizes outages, improves power quality, reliability, and safety.
- Causes power outages
- Causes lights to blink
- Obstructs visual inspections, making repairs difficult and costly
- Blocks access for maintenance and repairs, causing delays
- Wastes electricity by drawing it to the ground
- Becomes a fire hazard
- Becomes a safety hazard for utility workers and members
- Children and adults should never climb, trim, or touch trees that contact power lines!
York Electric’s ROW maintenance program balances the preservation of natural habitats against the service reliability needs of our members and the safety needs of the general public. In fact, it can actually benefit the ecosystem and other natural environments. ROW maintenance efforts create open areas that encourage the growth of wildflowers, ferns, grasses, flowers, berries, and other low-growing shrubs.
Related Topics:
Right of Way Maintenance
Trade a Tree Program