Trees may seem harmless on a calm, sunny day. But add a bit of wind or ice on a stormy night and those towering pillars may threaten your home’s electric supply.
STORM OUTAGES
Storm outages can occur when tree branches break and fall across power lines or when trees tumble onto the lines, so regular trimming of trees and brush along power lines helps prevent outages.
POWER INTERRUPTIONS
When strong winds blow, limbs growing too close to power lines may sway and touch wires, causing those annoying “blinks” in power.
DANGER LOOMS
When a tree touches an overhead power line, danger looms. Children climbing that tree can get shocked or killed.
LEAVE IT TO PROFESSIONALS
To fight these potential problems, electric cooperatives clear growth away from power lines as a way of reducing potential outages and safety risks.
Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative is committed to providing safe, reliable and affordable power, and a treetrimming program is key to fulfilling that promise.
Crews look for foliage growing under lines, overhanging branches, leaning or other types of dangerous trees that could pull down a power line if they fall. As a rule of thumb, 25 feet of ground-to-sky clearance should be available on each side of utility poles to give power lines plenty of space.
If a tree is growing underneath or near a power line, it should be cut down completely.
Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative also advises members to consider where they plant new trees. While a sapling may seem fine where it’s planted, consider what the tree will look like at maturity.
And remember: When power lines are involved, always leave the trimming to professionals. If trees in your area are growing into power lines, please call Burke-Divide Electric Cooperative. Crews will trim as soon as their work schedule allows.
