Detroit Edison Announces Tree-Trimming Schedule
March 05 2007 - 1:31PM
PR Newswire (US)
Line clearance program improves electric service reliability
DETROIT, March 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit Edison line-clearance
crews will be working in more than 30 Southeastern Michigan
communities in March and April, continuing their year-round effort
to maintain service reliability by keeping trees and branches away
from power lines. "We trim trees for two very important reasons --
to ensure our customers have dependable electric service and to
prevent safety hazards," said Vince Dow, DTE Energy vice president
of Distribution Operations. "By maintaining a 10-foot clearance
between tree branches and our power lines, we can significantly
reduce tree-related power outages." Tree interference is
responsible for about two-thirds of the power outages that occur
during storms. That's why Detroit Edison employs more than 500
professional tree trimmers to maintain the estimated 3.5 million
trees in its service territory. The company's tree-trimming crews
follow International Society of Arboriculture standards to maintain
the health of trees. The company has received the National Tree
Line USA Award for quality tree care for 10 consecutive years. "Our
goals are to keep customers' trees alive, healthy and out of harm's
way," explained Dow. "The directional pruning method we use removes
only the branches that pose a threat to power lines, and helps
ensure that future growth is directed away from power lines. After
we trim, trees are less susceptible to disease and insect problems,
and because they're stronger, they're more resistant to high winds
and heavy ice." Detroit Edison removes from customer property the
small branches and debris that result from its tree trimming work.
Larger trimmed branches are cut into firewood length and left
behind for customer use or disposal. Detroit Edison will not,
however, remove diseased tree debris. Debris caused by a severe
storm also is not removed. In the aftermath of a storm, Detroit
Edison crews must work quickly to remove downed wire hazards and
restore power to thousands of customers. They will cut broken and
uprooted trees in order to reach locations that need repair. In
such emergency situations, customers are advised to contact their
local Department of Public Works, trash collector or a professional
tree-removal company for advice on disposing of debris. Customers
are responsible for keeping tree branches away from their service
drops, the lines that run from utility poles to their homes.
Although the voltage running through the service drop is
significantly lower than that of pole-to-pole wires, Detroit Edison
recommends that customers hire a professional tree service to do
this trimming. Visit my.dteenergy.com/lineclearance to find more
information about line clearance and proper tree planting. In March
and April, line-clearance crews will continue or begin work in the
following communities: Huron County Oakland County Chandler
Township Clarkston Hume Township Hazel Park Lake Township Madison
Heights Meade Township Rochester Hills Springfield Township Lapeer
County Southfield Arcadia Township Union Lake Attica Attica
Township St. Clair County Lapeer Township Clyde Township Lum Fort
Gratiot Township Port Huron Livingston County Port Huron Township
Hamburg Hamburg Township Tuscola County Putnam Township Fremont
Township Juniata Township Macomb County Vassar Township Shelby
Township Washington Township Washtenaw County Ann Arbor Lima
Township Northfield Township Webster Township DATASOURCE: Detroit
Edison CONTACT: Eileen Dixon, +1-313-235-9154, or Len Singer,
+1-313-235-8809, both of Detroit Edison Web site:
http://www.dteenergy.com/ http://my.dteenergy.com/lineclearance
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