A tree at the intersection of Fifth and Oak streets was recently trimmed in a V to protect the electric line running through it. The tree is just one of many trees that Oncor Electric has trimmed around Graham for safety and service reliability.
Trees cut to protect power lines
by Cherry Rushin
(Posted 7/27/2010 04:34 pm)
newsdesk@grahamleader.com
Traveling the streets of Graham over the last few weeks, it’s hard to miss the tree trimming crews.
The crews are contracted by Oncor to trim the trees around electric lines.
“We trim trees throughout the year throughout our service area from Lufkin to Andrews. We trim for safety and reliability,” said Mike Nieto, west region manager for Oncor.
According to Nieto, Oncor removes 10 feet from the electric lines when they do the work every few years. The standards for trimming include removing two feet, four inches for safety, two feet for sway and six feet for regrowth.
“For regrowth, that averages about 18 inches per year for a four-year cycle,” he said.
Nieto said he is not certain what the specific schedule is for Graham, as in when the trimmers would be complete for this trimming cycle, but when they’re done, they won’t revisit the trees they’ve trimmed for another four to five years depending on the growth.
“The thing is, we do this under the guidance of trained arborists. In the past, we’ve been inconsistent with our trimming. We’d trim four feet, then six feet, then two feet. Reliability of service is so critical. The power lines that come through your property or down the street right of way could go to the police station or the hospital,” he said. “We’ve always trimmed trees, but now we’re being consistent in our tree trimming.”
To his knowledge, Nieto said Oncor has never killed a tree by trimming it.
“We trim back, and sometimes it looks like we get more than 10 feet because we get back to the limb. We try to trim back to the main limb. The arborists are available to consult with home owners,” he said.
Doors are tagged and residents are notified before the trees are trimmed, but that is not an invitation for homeowners to do the work themselves.
“Those high lines aren’t insulated. They’re very high voltage lines. They say, ‘Why can’t I hire somebody to trim my own trees?’ By law, you can’t do that because it’s such high voltage. Oncor Electric Delivery has a responsibility for safety to the public. So only tree trimmers we hire can trim next to power lines,” said Nieto.
He added that of the three main reasons for outages, trees are the only thing the company can control.
“Trees, lightning and wildlife are the three primary reasons for power outages. Of the three, what we can control is the trees,” he said. “They’ll grow back. Unfortunately, they’re close to a power line. Do you want power or do you want trees?”
He said Oncor encourages people to take power lines into consideration before they plant a tree. The company even has a safety program called, “Know Before You Grow.”
The only other possible option is for property owners to have power lines buried at their expense.
For information, visit the website www.oncor.com.
This tree that was recently trimmed at the intersection of Old Jacksboro Road and Cliff Drive. Oncor Electric has contracted tree trimmers to work throughout the Graham area into next month. (Photos by Cherry Rushin)
