At Dubois REC we strive to balance maintaining beautiful surroundings and ensuring a reliable power supply by keeping power lines clear in rights-of-way (ROW).

A ROW is the land we use to construct, maintain, replace or repair underground and overhead power lines. ROW enable the co-op to provide clearance from trees and other obstructions that could hinder the power line installation, maintenance or operation. ROW areas are typically on public lands or located near a business or home. Regardless, Dubois REC must be able to maintain the power lines above and below the ROW. The overall goal of our vegetation management program is to provide reliable power to our members while maintaining the beauty of our community. Proactive vegetation management benefits co-op members in three tangible ways.

Safety: First and foremost, we care about our members and put their safety and that of our line workers above all else. Overgrown vegetation and trees pose a risk to power lines. For example, if trees are touching power lines in our members yards, they can pose grave danger to families. If children can access those trees, they can potentially climb into a danger zone. Electricity can arc, or jump, from a power line to a nearby conductor like a tree. A proactive approach also diminishes the chances of fallen branches or trees during severe weather events that make it more complicated and dangerous for line workers to restore power.

Reliability: Of course, one of the biggest benefits of a smart vegetation management program is reliability. Strategic tree trimming reduces the frequency of downed lines causing power outages. Generally speaking, healthy trees don’t fall on power lines, and clear lines don’t cause problems. Proactive trimming and pruning keeps lines clear to promote reliability.

We have a detailed vegetation management plan to maximize the efficiency of our operation. This includes trimming trees and clearing vegetation 20 feet on each side of power lines, from earth to sky. (See the diagram on page 6.) We contract with Townsend Tree Service for vegetation management and tree trimming. As part of our routine ROW maintenance, our crews will remove vegetation and clear areas around power lines to help ensure safe and reliable electric service. When this work falls within the normal scope of our clearing program, crews will chip or mulch the debris on site and take care to minimize any impact to your yard or property. Larger pieces of wood will be left for the property owner.

If a property owner contacts us to request the removal of a tree they believe may be hazardous, or if our team identifies a tree that poses a risk to the electrical system, we will remove the tree. However, in these cases, the property owner is responsible for cleaning up the resulting debris.

Please note that during the spring storm season in Indiana, there is often a high volume of tree and limb damage. While our crews work as quickly and safely as possible, clean-up following widespread storm damage may take up to one to two weeks to complete.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work to keep your service safe and reliable.

Affordability: On a final note, as you know, Dubois REC is a non-profit cooperative, and that means we strive to keep our costs in check in order to keep our rates affordable. This extends to our approach to vegetation management.

If trees grow too close to power lines, the potential for expensive repairs also increases. Overgrown rights-of-way are also harder on our equipment. Effective tree trimming and other vegetation management efforts keep costs down for everyone. If you have any questions about our ROW trimming plan, please contact our office at 812-482-1188.