Work includes trimming along nearly 4,200 miles of power
lines
ERIE,
Pa., May 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Penelec, a
subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), continues to conduct
tree-trimming work in communities across its Pennsylvania service area as part of its
ongoing efforts to help enhance electric service reliability.
Maintaining proper clearances around electrical equipment can help
reduce the frequency and duration of tree-related power outages,
especially those associated with severe weather.
Since the beginning of the year, tree contractors have trimmed
along about 700 miles of power lines in the Penelec service area as
part of the company's $37.7 million
vegetation management program for 2022. Penelec's program remains
on track to complete an additional 3,500 miles of work by year
end.
Conducted on a four-year cycle, the program includes inspecting
vegetation near the lines to ensure trees are pruned in a manner
that helps preserve the health of the tree while also maintaining
safe clearances around electrical equipment. Trees that present a
danger or are diseased may be removed.
"Penelec is committed to enhancing customer service reliability,
and our vegetation management program is one of the most important
things we do every year to help maintain our electric system and
restore power more quickly after storms," said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy's
Pennsylvania operations.
This year, Penelec is scheduled to trim trees along power lines
in the following counties and areas:
- Bedford – Everett
- Blair – Altoona, East
Freedom, Hollidaysburg,
Tyrone
- Bradford – Athens, East
Smithfield, North Orwell,
Sayre
- Cambria – Cresson, Ebensburg, Lilly, Westmont
- Clarion – Knox
- Clearfield – Dubois, Winburne
- Center-Osceola Mills, Philipsburg
- Crawford – Cambridge Springs, Conneautville, Geneva, Meadville, Union
City
- Erie – Erie, Fairview, Harbor Creek, Waterford
- Forest – Crown, Marienville
- Huntingdon – Mount Union, Spruce
Creek, Saxton, Three Springs
- Indiana – Clarksburg, Clymer, Indiana
- Jefferson – Big Run, Brookville, Punxsutawney
- McKean – Bradford, Eldred
- Mifflin – Bellville
- Perry – Blain
- Somerset – Somerset, Windber
- Susquehanna – Choconut Township, Montrose
- Tioga – Blossburg, Niles Valley, Osceola, Westfield
- Venango – Cherrytree Township,
Cranberry, Franklin, Oil
City, Rocky Grove
- Warren – Warren, Tidioute
- Wayne – Lake Como
- Wyoming – Meshoppen
As part of its notification process, Penelec works with
municipalities to inform them of tree-trimming schedules. In
addition, customers living in areas along company rights-of-way are
notified prior to vegetation management work being done.
The vegetation management work is conducted by qualified line
clearance arborists under the company's direction, including
Asplundh Tree Expert Company, Davey Tree Expert Company, Penn Line
Service, Hazlett Tree Service,
Townsend Tree Service, Lewis Tree
Service, and Treesmiths.
Penelec serves approximately 585,000 customers within 17,600
square miles of northern and central Pennsylvania. Follow Penelec on Twitter
@Penelec and on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/PenelecElectric.
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and
operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form
one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems,
serving customers in Ohio,
Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West
Virginia, Maryland and
New York. The company's
transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of
transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic
regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com and
on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp.
Editor's Note: Photos of workers using bucket trucks
to trim trees near FirstEnergy power lines are available for
download on Flickr. A video explaining FirstEnergy's vegetation
management techniques can also be found on YouTube.
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SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.