Detroit Edison announces tree-trimming schedule
January 11 2007 - 4:11PM
PR Newswire (US)
Line clearance program improves electric service reliability
DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Detroit Edison
line-clearance crews will be working in more than 30 Southeastern
Michigan communities in January and February, 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 January and February,
line-clearance crews will continue or begin work in the following
communities: Huron County Oakland County Bayport Royal Oak
Fairhaven Township Southfield McKinley Township Troy Winsor
Township West Bloomfield Township Lapeer County St. Clair County
Hadley Township Algonac Metamora Township Clay Township
Cottrellville Township Livingston County Marine City Brighton
Township Marysville Green Oak Township Hamburg Township Putnam
Township Tuscola County Almer Township Macomb County Caro Shelby
Township Indianfields Township Washington Township Wells Township
Oakland County Washtenaw County Brandon Township Lima Township
Independence Township Madison Heights Wayne County Oxford Township
Detroit Rochester Hills DATASOURCE: DTE Energy CONTACT: Media,
Eileen Dixon, +1-313-235-9154, or Len Singer, +1-313-235-8809; both
of DTE Energy Web site: http://www.dteenergy.com/
http://my.dteenergy.com/lineclearance
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