Detroit Edison Announces Tree-Trimming Schedule
08 January 2008 - 5:59AM
PR Newswire (US)
Line clearance program improves electric service reliability
DETROIT, Jan. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Detroit Edison line-clearance crews
will be working in 39 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 12 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. In January and February, line-clearance crews will
continue or begin work in the following communities: Ingham County:
Bell Oak Leroy Township Locke Township Williamston Lapeer County:
Almont Almont Township Hadley Township Metamora Township Macomb
County: Clinton Township Eastpointe St. Clair Shores Warren Monroe
County: Ash Township Berlin Township Oakland County: Birmingham
Bloomfield Township Clarkston Hazel Park Rochester Hills Troy St.
Clair County: Berlin Township Memphis Riley Township Wales Township
Sanilac County: Worth Township Tuscola County: Kingston Kingston
Township Koylton Township Wells Township Washtenaw County: Dexter
Scio Township Webster Township Wayne County: Detroit Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe Farms Grosse Pointe Park Grosse Pointe Shores Grosse
Pointe Woods Livonia DATASOURCE: Detroit Edison CONTACT: Eileen
Dixon, +1-313-235-9154, or Len Singer, +1-313-235-8809, both of
Detroit Edison Web site: http://www.dteenergy.com/
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