Who is Responsible: PWC or the Customer?
PWC’s Line Clearance / Vegetation Management is an essential part of power line maintenance to ensure safe, reliable electrical service. It includes:
- Pruning or removing trees (undesired vegetation) from rights-of-way of overhead power lines
- Routine surveys and plans to clear the power lines (every 3 to 5 years).
- Notifying customers of trees that may pose a threat to their overhead power lines.
The Line Clearance crews trim trees that are a hazard to overhead power lines or that obstruct the illumination of streetlights. Using the latest in Arboriculture techniques, the crews achieve the needed clearance until the next scheduled trimming rotation. The adequate clearance is determined on a tree-by-tree basis, referencing the tree species, layout of the land, location of the tree, and the power line itself.
Our work is concentrated mostly on clearing transmission and distribution circuits. Most secondary and service drop lines are insulated and do not require maintenance unless a limb is putting substantial pressure on the line, thus causing the insulation to be rubbed off the wire. PWC does not remove trees along secondary or service drop lines.
If the problem with a tree does not fall under these guidelines, it is the responsibility of the customer to contact a private contractor to perform the work.
Essential Clearances
New Construction of Overhead Lines
Width may vary with site conditions:
- Sub-transmission: Minimum of 50′ wide corridor
- Two and Three Phase Primary: Minimum of 30′ wide corridor
- Secondary Lines: All limbs within 5′ of the new line
Existing Overhead Lines
Width may vary with site conditions:
- Sub-transmission: Minimum of 50′ wide corridor
- Two and Three Phase Primary: 30′ corridor
- Secondary and Service Triplex: Addressing just the limbs putting pressure or rubbing against the line will result in trimming 1′ to 2′ clearance. PWC will not remove vegetation greater than 4″ diameter for secondary and service wires.
- Street Lights: 10′ trimming clearance for illumination of the street.
- Area Lights: PWC does not clear for illumination of area lights. Only limbs that are interfering with the essential equipment for the operation of the light will be trimmed.
