System maintenance is key to reliable service

Our objective at Callaway Electric Cooperative is to provide safe, quality and reliable electric service at the lowest cost consistent with sound business practices. To help accomplish this we depend on proactive right-of-way (ROW) initiatives, including strategic vegetation management practices. When not controlled, trees and other vegetation can be a leading cause of outages for utility providers. While trees contribute to the beauty of landscapes and offer welcome shade, ensuring they are planted in the right places and aren’t interfering with electric lines and equipment is essential to reliability. System upgrades and maintenance along with a regular testing of electric poles also play into the formula for providing reliable electric service.

What exactly is right-of-way? It is the land we use to construct, maintain, replace or repair underground and overhead power lines. Right of way enables the cooperative to provide clearance from trees and other obstructions that could hinder the power line installation, maintenance or operation. Regardless, Callaway Electric must be able to maintain the power lines above and below the ROW. The overall goal of our vegetation management program is to provide safe and reliable power to our members while maintaining the beauty of landscapes. Proactive vegetation management and system maintenance benefits our members in three tangible ways.

SAFETY

First and foremost, we care about our members and put their safety and that of our lineworkers above all else. Overgrown vegetation and trees pose a risk to power lines. Overloading poles or leaving them on the system beyond their lifespan can also be dangerous. If trees are touching power lines in our members’ yards, they can pose grave danger to families. If children can access those trees, they can potentially climb into a danger zone. Electricity can arc, or jump, from a power line to a nearby conductor like a tree. A proactive approach also diminishes the chances of fallen branches or trees during severe weather events that make it more complicated and dangerous for lineworkers to restore power.

RELIABILITY

Of course, one of the biggest benefits of a smart vegetation management program coupled with dedicated system maintenance is reliability. Strategic tree trimming reduces the frequency of downed lines causing power outages. Generally speaking, trees outside the ROW don’t fall on power lines, and clear lines don’t cause problems. Proactive trimming and pruning keeps lines clear to promote reliability. Testing and changing out poles on a routine rotation and keeping up to date on system maintenance and upgrades also helps ensure reliable service.

The current goal of our vegetation management plan is to mechanically clear each of our 10 substations on a 7 year rotation. We then follow up 2 years later with low volume spraying to treat tall growing brush under the electric lines, while still encouraging growth of grasses and low growing vegetation. Spraying provides a cost-effective way to control growth in the right of way. Spraying typically takes place in the heat of summer months. Affected members receive a letter with details prior to the beginning of spraying. We appreciate all member support during the process of spraying and right of way clearing. It truly helps us maintain and improve the quality of the electric service we provide.

AFFORDABILITY

As you know, Callaway Electric is a member owned cooperative. We strive to keep our costs in check in order to keep our rates affordable. This extends to our approach to system maintenance and vegetation management. If trees grow too close to power lines or poles are not monitored and changed when needed, the potential for expensive repairs also increases. Effective tree trimming, vegetation management and system maintenance efforts keep costs down for everyone.

‘Thank you’ to the membership for your cooperation as we maintain the electric system. This includes the tree trimming program, the replacement of poles or outage restoration. With member cooperation and support the electric service has become more reliable.