Skip to main content

Toll Free: (800) 214-2694 | Pay by Phone: (855) 730-8709

Pay Your Bill
Power Outages
Contact Us
Home
Menu
  • Home
  • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education Programs
    • Kids Corner
    • Operation Round Up®
    • Political Action
  • Cooperative Information
    • About People's Energy Cooperative
    • Board of Directors
    • Bylaws & Articles of Incorporation
    • Careers
    • News and Information
    • Our Mission, Vision & Values
    • Privacy Statement / Notice
    • Service Territory and Board Districts
    • Seven Cooperative Principles
    • Statement of Non-Discrimination
  • Electric Service
    • 811 Call Before You Dig
    • Construction Information
    • Landscape & Tree Planting Guidelines
    • Power Line Safety
    • Power Outage Information
    • Power Outages Map
    • Vegetation Management
  • Member Center
    • Account
      • Account Management
      • Become a Member
      • Capital Credits
      • Payment Options
      • Rebates
      • Rates
    • Programs & Services
      • Co-op Connections Discounts
      • Energy Audits
      • Energy Management Programs
      • Evergreen Renewable Energy Program
      • Heartland Security
      • Home Energy Savings
      • HomeServe Service Plan
      • Outdoor LED Lighting
      • People's Community Solar
      • Power Down - Voluntary Load Reduction
      • Standby Generator Program
      • Viasat Internet
      • Water Heating Programs
  • Renewable Energy & Electric Vehicles
    • Clean Energy Initiative Partnership
    • Electric Vehicles Resource Page
    • Renewable Energy

Vegetation Management

Vegetation Management

For efficient and safe operation of equipment and power lines, the clearing of trees and brush in right-of-ways is essential.  Branches that come in contact with power lines can be potential fire hazards, trigger power outages, and endanger lives.  Trees or brush that threaten the reliability of our electric service will be pruned or removed.

For a copy of our vegetation management policy, please click below.

Vegetation Management Policy

Why Vegetation Management

Our mission is built around providing reliable electric service to our members.  An important part of making that possible is utilizing vegetation management.  The work we do with vegetation management helps keep outages and blinks to a minimum, reduces the potential for the public to come in contact with electric lines, and helps line crews access the line for maintenance and outage restoration.  

Since beginning a vegetation management program five years ago, we have seen a drastic decrease in power outages related to trees contacting power lines.  Although not always easy, the work we have done has made a difference.

For a great video displaying what happens when trees come into contact with power lines or when a tree takes down a line and continues to be energized, click below.

Power Line Safety

Our Vegetation Management Plan

Scheduled Maintenance Cycles

We have found that performing routine tree and brush management work is the most effective for keeping power lines clear of hazards.  Our service territory is divided up into sections and each section is on a multi-year maintenance cycle.  Initial work includes tree removal, pruning, and clearing of brush.  

Two growing seasons after the clearing, licensed applicators treat the re-sprouting brush in the corridors using state registered herbicides.  These applications are crucial in controlling our costs because they are approximately one-third the cost of mechanical mowing and several times less expensive than manual cutting.

Prior to either initial clearing or herbicide spraying, you will be notified of work being done in your area.

Unscheduled Maintenance

Throughout the year, we perform routine line patrol to ensure the system is working as safely and efficiently as possible.  During this line patrol, we often find areas in our service territory that have been affected by storms, dead or dying trees, and those that have grown faster than expected.  Trees posing a high risk of affecting the near-by power lines will be marked to be moved at a later date.

Occasionally, members notice trees encroaching on their primary or secondary power lines on their property.  If you have questions regarding assistance with tree pruning or removal, we encourage you to work with a professional to get the work done.  The following tree contractors currently perform this work for People's and are well-versed in operating around power lines.

Carr's Tree Service

New Age Tree Service

Back to Top

Quick Links

  • Become a Member
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • News and Information
  • Payment Options
  • Power Outage Information

Contact Us

People's Energy Cooperative

1775 Lake Shady Avenue South
Oronoco, MN  55960

Phone | (800) 214-2694 or (507) 367-7000
Fax | (507) 367-7001

Office Hours
Monday-Friday | 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

 

©2021 People's Energy Cooperative. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • Community
    • Economic Development
    • Education Programs
    • Kids Corner
    • Operation Round Up®
    • Political Action
  • Cooperative Information
    • About People's Energy Cooperative
    • Board of Directors
    • Bylaws & Articles of Incorporation
    • Careers
    • News and Information
    • Our Mission, Vision & Values
    • Privacy Statement / Notice
    • Service Territory and Board Districts
    • Seven Cooperative Principles
    • Statement of Non-Discrimination
  • Electric Service
    • 811 Call Before You Dig
    • Construction Information
    • Landscape & Tree Planting Guidelines
    • Power Line Safety
    • Power Outage Information
    • Power Outages Map
    • Vegetation Management
  • Member Center
    • Account
      • Account Management
      • Become a Member
      • Capital Credits
      • Payment Options
      • Rebates
      • Rates
    • Programs & Services
      • Co-op Connections Discounts
      • Energy Audits
      • Energy Management Programs
      • Evergreen Renewable Energy Program
      • Heartland Security
      • Home Energy Savings
      • HomeServe Service Plan
      • Outdoor LED Lighting
      • People's Community Solar
      • Power Down - Voluntary Load Reduction
      • Standby Generator Program
      • Viasat Internet
      • Water Heating Programs
  • Renewable Energy & Electric Vehicles
    • Clean Energy Initiative Partnership
    • Electric Vehicles Resource Page
    • Renewable Energy