The Gig Harbor area and surrounding peninsulas are fortunate to have so many trees that offer natural beauty, shade, and a habitat for all sorts of birds and other wildlife.
At PenLight, we strive to balance maintaining beautiful surroundings and ensuring a reliable power supply by keeping power lines clear in rights-of-way.
A row is the land we use to construct, maintain, replace or repair underground and overhead power lines. Rights-of-way enable the co-op to provide clearance from trees and other obstructions that could hinder power line installation, maintenance or operation.
Row areas are typically on public lands or near a business or home. No matter the location, PenLight must be able to maintain the power lines above and below the row.
The overall goal of PenLight’s vegetation management program is to provide reliable power to members while maintaining the beauty of the community. Proactive vegetation management benefits co-op members in three tangible ways:
Safety
First and foremost, we care about our members. We put their safety and that of our lineworkers above all else. Overgrown vegetation and trees pose a risk to power lines. Clearing vegetation reduces the chances of fallen branches or trees during severe weather events, which can make restoring power more complicated and dangerous for lineworkers.
Reliability
Strategic tree trimming reduces the frequency of downed lines causing power outages. Generally, healthy trees don’t fall on power lines, and clear lines don’t cause problems. Proactive trimming and pruning keep lines clear and promotes reliability.
Affordability
As a not-for-profit cooperative, PenLight strives to keep costs in check so rates are affordable. If trees grow too close to power lines, the potential for expensive repairs increases. Effective tree trimming and other vegetation management efforts keep costs down for everyone.
Our community is a special place. We appreciate the beauty of trees, but know our community depends on us to provide reliable energy. Through vegetation management, we are better able to keep power lines clear, prepare for weather events and secure a reliable grid.