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Trees and power lines are a tricky combination. Without regular maintenance, they can become a real problem, especially during the growing season. That’s why you’ll see our crews out in the community, proactively trimming trees around power lines. This work is essential for keeping your lights on and ensuring a safe, reliable power supply.

Here’s why it matters:

• Fewer Power Outages: Keeping tree limbs away from power lines is the best way to prevent outages, especially during storms or periods of rapid tree growth. This means fewer disruptions to your service.
• Faster Repairs: When outages do happen, clear lines allow our crews to access and repair damaged equipment quickly. This gets your power back on faster.
• Safety First: Tree trimming protects both our crews and the public from potential hazards like falling limbs, contact with live wires and even fires caused by vegetation touching power lines. It’s about everyone’s safety.
• Saving You Money: Regular maintenance is much more cost-effective than dealing with emergency repairs after a major outage.
• Protecting Wildlife: While we try to preserve trees whenever possible, trimming creates a safer environment for wildlife by reducing the risk of animals coming into contact with power lines.
• A More Beautiful Community: Maintaining clearances around power lines improves the appearance of our community and prevents overgrown vegetation from becoming a nuisance.

You can also help us maintain a safe and reliable power system by being mindful when planting trees on your own property. When planting new trees, it’s important to consider their mature size and proximity to power lines. Large trees planted too close to power lines can create safety hazards and increase the likelihood of outages.

If you see a tree limb or an entire tree that has fallen onto a power line, please do not approach it. These situations are extremely dangerous. Instead, contact our office immediately at (479) 394-4140 to report the issue. Our crews will be dispatched to assess the situation and make the area safe.

Our tree trimming program is a vital part of our commitment to providing responsible, affordable and reliable power. It’s an investment in preventing problems before they happen and ensuring a dependable power supply for everyone.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain our electric system.