One of the best things about our community is the natural beauty that surrounds us. The Gig Harbor area and surrounding peninsulas are fortunate to have so many trees that offer 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.
While we recognize and appreciate the beauty of trees, there are three main benefits to tree trimming in right-of-way (ROW) areas. A right-of-way 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 the power line installation, maintenance, or operation. ROW areas are typically on public lands or located near businesses or homes. Regardless of the location, PenLight must be able to maintain the power lines above and below the ROW. The overall goal of our vegetation management program is to provide reliable power to our members while maintaining the beauty of our community. Proactive vegetation management benefits co-op members in three tangible ways.
Safety
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. A proactive approach to tree trimming diminishes the chances of fallen branches or trees during severe weather events, when it is more complicated and dangerous for lineworkers to restore power.
Reliability
One of the biggest benefits of a smart vegetation management program is reliability. Strategic tree trimming reduces the frequency of downed lines causing power outages. Generally speaking, healthy trees don’t fall on power lines, and clear lines don’t cause problems. Proactive trimming and pruning keeps lines clear to promote reliability.
Affordability
As a not-for-profit cooperative, PenLight strives to keep costs in check in order to keep rates affordable. This extends to our approach to vegetation management. 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 trees provide, but we also know our community depends on us to provide reliable energy. Through vegetation management, we are better able to keep the power lines clear, prepare for future weather events, and secure the reliability of the grid.