Right-of-Way Maintenance
Fallen trees and branches are a major cause of widespread power outages after a natural disaster. Randolph EMC's lines, poles and substation structures are engineered to withstand many forces of nature, but still have the potential to fall victim to the force of a fallen tree or large branch.
An aggressive tree-trimming and right-of-way maintenance program for power lines is crucial to the cooperative's mission of delivering reliable electric power to members. However, even with a first rate right-of-way maintenance program, major storms often cause trees outside the right of way to make contact with the lines and cause outages.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) issues regulations and bulletins that require electric cooperatives to have an effective tree-trimming and right-of-way clearing program in place. This program must include a regular rotation schedule determined by vegetation growth patterns and service area terrain.
In addition to using their own employees for right-of-way maintenance, many cooperatives employ contractors and tree-trimming specialists. Randolph EMC will periodically publish the locations where right-of-way maintenance crews will be in the Watts Working newsletter section of Carolina Country magazine. If, at any time, you observe trees growing into power lines that may be dangerous, let the cooperative know immediately.
