Tree Trimming

Trees shade our homes, clean our air and give distinction to our neighborhoods. But, during storms, trees are the number-one cause of power outages in Pepco's service area. Maryland and the District of Columbia Public Service Commissions require that Pepco deliver reliable electric service. That includes keeping trees trimmed a safe distance from power lines. Trimming or pruning is done for public safety because many power outages are caused when tree branches fall onto power lines. Pepco's tree trimming program consists of 4 categories.

Routine Trimming

The types of trees along our primary distribution lines in residential areas generally need pruning every 2-5 years. This is routine trimming.

Asplundh, our tree trimming contractor, makes contact with every tree that is potentially in contact with our power lines or other electrical equipment and we maintain that clearance to keep the trees from contacting our electric system and cause outages.

Storm Hardening

Some areas along Pepco’s system are impacted more by storms than other areas. These are areas that have large tree growth well above the electric system. Pepco’s storm hardening project was created to ensure those lines most susceptible to damage from trees during a storm are aggressively kept clear of trees that could cause outages.

Maintenance

Maintenance on the system goes beyond routine tree trimming. It includes assisting in the restoration efforts after a storm as well as providing assistance to public and private property owners with the removal of hazardous trees near power lines.

Rights-of-Way

There are land areas on which power lines run that Pepco maintains. These are called rights-of-ways. On the transmission system, Pepco owns the land beneath the lines. On all rights-of-way, Pepco generally mows the land beneath the high voltage lines and from edge to edge of the rights-of-way every 4 to 5 years to prevent trees and other vegetation from growing up into the high voltage transmission and distribution lines.