Providing you with safe, reliable and efficient electric service is a top priority for BCREMC. One way we do this is by maintaining a clear path, or right-of-way easement, around power lines.  Our vegetation management program represents a significant investment. However, it is necessary to provide our members with reliable electric service. 

Throughout 2019, ElectriCom, professional tree-trimming contractors, will be trimming trees along the main power lines of the Elizabethtown Substation in the townships of Rock Creek, Sand Creek, Clifty, Clay and Geneva. Members with trees needing to be trimmed will receive a bright green door card at their residences defining the work necessary. Please sign that card or call with questions.

For conservation stewardship, BCREMC strives to maintain power line rights-of-way that provide a natural habitat for wildlife. You will also see a few blue bird boxes. When tree trimmers are in your area, the amount of pruning necessary varies depending on the type of tree and the type of power line. It is sometimes necessary to remove entire trees. These include trees that are weak, diseased, dying, severely damaged or overgrown. It may also include trees under or close to power lines that would have to be trimmed so much that they would not survive or would be very unsightly. 

When we trim trees, we clean up the area and haul away the brush. However, logs too large to be chipped and hauled away (usually six inches in diameter or larger) are cut into more manageable lengths and left on-site for the property owner’s use or disposal. “Make safe” trees will be trimmed as needed to eliminate the threat to the electrical system. BCREMC may or may not cut the whole tree down depending on the circumstances. A stub or base of the tree may be left standing, but will be clear of the electrical equipment. Debris on make-safe trees will not be cleaned up. All brush and associated debris will be left on the property and not hauled off or chipped.

Vegetation management is one of the best things we’ve done to improve reliability. Fewer blinks, fewer outages and outages of shorter duration have been the result of better vegetation management. 

Let’s work together to prevent costly service interruptions caused by trees damaging power lines. Make sure to plant large growing trees at least 25 feet from the power lines. If you have a question on where to plant a tree, please contact us.