TREE TRIMMING

Fayette Electric Cooperative’s right-of-way program is a continuous, preventative maintenance program that involves trimming trees, removing dead and dangerous trees, and removing underbrush.  A properly maintained right-of-way helps to reduce or eliminate power outages by keeping limbs and trees away from power lines. 

Power outages caused by trees falling into power lines or electric service drops are one of the biggest problems that occurs during thunderstorms, ice storms or whenever high winds blow through the service territory. 

FEC constructs power lines for our Members on easements provided by the property owners.  The co-op’s utility easements are filed with the County Clerk to provide ingress and egress by our crews in order to maintain the power lines and to keep the right-of-ways clear of trees and brush. 

When crews clear a right-of-way, the minimum distance to cut back trees and brush is 20 feet – 10 feet on each side of single-phase lines.  A 30-foot right-of-way, 15 feet on each side, is cleared under three-phase lines.  Both procedures are standard for the industry.

TREE PLANTING GUIDELINES

PLAN BEFORE YOU PLANT Location, Location, Location. It's everything when planting trees. Trees that grow into power lines can create a safety hazard for children climbing them, individuals trimming them or crews working on electrical lines. More than half of all power outages are caused by trees or limbs touching or falling on power lines. THE RIGHT TREE IN THE RIGHT SPOT When selecting your tree, be sure to consider its size at maturity. FEC recommends planting trees at least 50 feet from power lines. Don't gamble with your safety - call FEC at 979-968-3181 or 1-866-968-3181 before your dig - to locate and mark any underground utility lines.