Right of Way Maintenance

Trees & Powerlines do not mix

We all appreciate trees. They beautify our property, cool our homes, provide privacy screens, and even sometimes increase our property value if placed properly.

We also appreciate electricity, although sometimes we take it for granted. We expect, even demand, reliable electric service.

Unfortunately, trees and power lines are not a good mix. Trees growing in power lines can cause blinks (short service interruptions), power outages, and can also be deadly to you and your children.

Our desire for both trees and electricity can sometimes cause controversy when right-of-ways must be cleared to ensure safety and continuous power to our members. This brochure will explain the importance of our right-of-way program.

Safety first & always
A very important reason for keeping the right-of-way clear is SAFETY. Accidents happen so quickly. Kids climbing trees can be a tragedy waiting to happen if they touch a limb in contact with an energized line or touch the line itself. The result can be severe injury or even death. Adults also are at risk if working around lines in trees. Ozark Electric Cooperative, like all utility companies,

is required by and willingly complies with National Electric Safety Code industry standards to keep trees out of power lines for safety reasons.


Let's Not Forget
Trees falling into power lines due to high wind or ice storms can knock power out to hundreds of consumers in a second. Not only do lines come down, but utility poles will snap due to the weight of fallen trees causing lengthy power outages. Pruning trees is only a temporary solution, because the trees will grow back. Therefore, trees must be permanently cleared using mechanical clear cutting and

spraying methods. Not all storm-related outages can be prevented (i.e. heavy ice-laden lines will fall; vehicles will slide into and break poles, etc.), but we can certainly minimize the damage by keeping the right-of-ways clear. So when you see right-of-way crews out working in the warm weather months, please remember their work will help keep your power on during winter disasters like the one shown here.


It's paying off
To assure our members' safety and their continuous power supply, Ozark Electric Cooperative contracts professional right-of-way maintenance crews to clear over 4,700 miles of line using mechanical cutting and environmentally safe chemical spraying methods each spring and summer. Ozark Electric Cooperative takes this responsibility seriously and has committed over 10 million dollars to right-of-way maintenance since the 1987 ice storm. Our records show this vigorous right-of-way program has paid off with average outages per member being reduced by half since we began.

Your help is needed
Overgrown utility easements make the job of locating and fixing power outages more time consuming, costly, and even dangerous for our utility crews. By keeping the right-of-way clear, we are able to safely restore your power in less time. You can help us hold down costs and increase your power reliability by avoiding planting trees and bushes under or near powerlines. By following the planting guidelines shown above and published in detail in your Rural Missouri newspaper each year, you will help us in our efforts to bring you safer, more reliable electric power.

 
     
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