Everyone should learn more about the Right of Way Policy at Tri- County Electric Membership Corporation. Prior to maintaining the right-of-way, Tri-County Electric will attempt to contact the property owner using information available to Tri-County Electric. Tri-County Electric will only recognize the property owner or his/her pre-established designee as an individual having authority to make permanent decisions concerning the alteration of property. The property owner may establish the conditions for access to the right-of-way work area but cannot unreasonably deny access to Tri-County Electric employees.
Tri-County Electric will be responsible for all repairs to property damaged while maintaining the right-of-way unless the damaged property infringed on the designated right-of-way area defined in the policy.
Tri-County Electric will remove all debris trimmed using hand saws and will rake clean any manicured areas.
Tri-County Electric will use the lateral pruning method that is outlined in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 standard. Lateral pruning removes branches where they meet the closest lateral branch that is at least one-third the diameter of the original branch and that grows away from the electric line. If there is no lateral branch to prune to, however, the limb must be removed at the tree’s trunk. That leaves a healthier tree with no stub to decay and prevents the growth of weak sprouts. The National Arbor Day Foundation, International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) and National Arborist Association recommend this standard.
Tri-County Electric will train and certify its employees on proper tree pruning, vegetation care and utility tree trimming safety following ANSI, ISA and other suitable standards. Tri-County Electric has practiced ANSI cutting and has received annual recognition from Tree Line USA since 2011.
Proper pruning may mean removing branches beyond the designated minimum 50 feet of clearance for distribution lines or 75 feet for transmission lines. If the closest proper-size lateral branch is farther away than the minimum clearance, the limb will be removed to the proper joint for the health of the tree. By directing growth away from electric lines, lateral pruning results in less future pruning, which reduces the visual impact and the cost of pruning. Controlling vegetation management results in cost savings for Tri-County Electric customers.
For new services, it is the homeowner’s responsibility to prepare the right-of-way area as designated in sections 1 and 2. The right-of-way will be inspected and must be approved for compliance prior to construction. Tri-County Electric will not be responsible for landscaping repairs for new construction.