After and an left Connecticut in the dark, says they are enacting a plan that includes significantly “more routine and enhanced tree trimming in 2012 across the state.”
The utility company says they plan to $53.5 million on tree trimming — an increase of approximately $27 million over 2011. The expanded tree work will be performed along 4,900 miles of the company’s utility poles and wires, an increase of 1,600 miles.
In a press release, CL&P outlined that the additional tree work includes:
- 1,100 additional miles of routine tree trimming
- 500 additional miles of enhanced tree trimming and tree removal
Expanded tree work is a critical part of our plan to reduce the vulnerability of our distribution system to outages,” said Bill Quinlan, CL&P’s vice president of Emergency Preparedness. “Emergency preparedness is a top priority at CL&P, and significantly increasing our tree-trimming program is one way we’re demonstrating that commitment to our customers. We’ll be working closely with our municipal partners to coordinate our efforts.”
Municipal Outreach
CL&P arborists have reportedly begun reaching out to municipal leaders in the towns and cities served by CL&P to review tree-trimming plans and coordinate them with local efforts. Permits from local and state agencies will be obtained in advance, and CL&P will coordinate with municipal and state partners regarding parking and traffic control where necessary.
Contractor Agreements with CL&P
CL&P has begun hiring approximately 100 additional contractor tree crews to perform the expanded tree work, which is expected to continue through December 2012.
Public Education
Outreach to CL&P customers will focus on the shared responsibility of tree maintenance to ensure electric reliability; planting appropriate trees near utility poles and wires; and the importance of being prepared before storms. For more information on planting the right tree in the right place, or a comprehensive list of trees that are compatible with utility lines, visit the publications section of www.cl-p.com. Customers with general questions about our expanded tree work program should call CL&P’s customer service center at 800-286-2000.
