• Vegetation Management Concepts and Principles

    As regulators increasingly scrutinize reliability of electric service, storm response and mandate reliability targets, trees emerge as a major risk to utilities. Understanding the drivers of tree liability opens the door to managing tree risk and simultaneously minimizing tree-related outages and maintenance costs. Read more...
    Nov. 18, 2010

    As regulators increasingly scrutinize reliability of electric service, storm response and mandate reliability targets, trees emerge as a major risk to utilities. Understanding the drivers of tree liability opens the door to managing tree risk and simultaneously minimizing tree-related outages and maintenance costs....

    About the Author

    Sig Guggenmoos

    P. Ag. CPC President, Ecological Solutions Inc., Sherwood Park, Alberta, Canada

    Education: Bachelor of Science in Agriculture B.Sc.(Agr.)

    Accreditations: Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.); Certified Professional Consultant (CPC)

    Organizations: Alberta Institute of Agrologists, International Society of Arboriculture, Utility Arborist Association, Industrial Vegetation Management Association of Alberta.

    Mr. Guggenmoos was a chief architect of the TransAlta Utilities Distribution Line Clearance program, which reduced tree related outages 80%; saved 48 million dollars over two maintenance cycles; had a 98% customer satisfaction rating; and, showed a 21% increase in contractor crew productivity. He was responsible for the herbicide program, associated research and communication. In addition, he brought a financial focus to the program, developing processes for financial comparisons of alternatives to repetitive tree pruning and was intimately involved in the design and assessment of contracting methods.

    As president of Ecological Solutions Inc. (Ecosync) Mr. Guggenmoos provides consulting services in vegetation management and biotic greenhouse gas mitigation strategies including biomass-derived energy.

    Publications and Presentations:
    Author of numerous abstracts and publications; numerous presentations to public, industry and professional associations including international conferences. List of publications available upon request.

    Sign up for TDWorld eNewsletters

    Voice Your Opinion!

    To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of T&D World, create an account today!