PECO is investing $670,000 in vegetation management along 263 miles of aerial electric lines to improve electric service for more than 96,000 customers in southeastern Montgomery and northeastern Philadelphia counties. Work began in May and will be completed by the end of August.
Specifically, work will occur in Cheltenham Township and in the Philadelphia neighborhoods of Bridesburg, Frankford, Juniata, Lawncrest, Richmond, Tacony and Wissinoming.
“Vegetation growth causes about one-third of all electric outages,” said John McDonald, PECO vice president of Technical Services. “Preventive pruning around aerial power lines is vital to safely keeping the lights on for our customers.”
Each year, PECO invests approximately $500 million to enhance its electric infrastructure, including preventive maintenance and equipment upgrades. In 2015, PECO will invest about $36 million in vegetation management work around approximately 2,800 miles of aerial power lines along the company’s electric transmission and distribution system.
PECO’s vegetation management crews are trained in arboricultural techniques as defined in the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A300 Standard. This standard takes into account the type and location of the tree, its relation to overhead equipment and overall health of the tree. Customers are notified before work begins in their area.
