During storms,the trees are the number one cause of power outages in Delmarva Power's service area. Delaware and Maryland Public Service Commissions require that Delmarva Power deliver reliable electric service. That includes keeping trees pruned a safe distance from power lines. Pruning is done for public safety because many power outages are caused when tree branches fall onto power lines. Our tree pruning program consists of four categories:
The types of trees along our primary distribution lines in residential areas generally need pruning every two to five years. This is routine pruning. Asplundh, our tree pruning contractor, prunes every tree that could potentially come in contact with power lines or other electrical equipment. The goal is to maintain and deliver safe and reliable electric service to our customers by minimizing outages caused by trees.
Some areas along Delmarva Power's system are impacted more by storms than other areas. These are areas that have large tree growth well above the electric system and require more than routine pruning. Our storm hardening project focuses on lines most susceptible to damage from trees during a storm to keep them clear of trees that could cause outages.
Maintenance on the system goes beyond routine tree pruning. It includes assisting in the restoration efforts after a storm as well as providing assistance to public and private property owners with the removal of hazardous trees near power lines.
Delmarva Power maintains rights-of-way. These are areas on which power lines run. On all rights-of-way, Delmarva Power generally mows the land beneath the high-voltage lines and from edge to edge of the rights-of-way every four to five years to prevent trees and other vegetation from growing up into the high-voltage transmission and distribution lines.