Cowlitz County Public Utility District » Outages & Safety » Vegetation Management

Vegetation Management

SPRING PROJECTS? PLAN AHEAD!

If you are planning to do some landscaping, or even plant a tree, we ask that you keep some things in mind.

  • Call 811 before you dig
  • Trees and shrubs can be a problem for overhead and underground facilities.
  • Look up to see if there are overhead lines above or near your planting site.
    • 在电线正下方或20英尺范围内种植的树木的成熟高度应低于25英尺
    • Trees that mature to 25 to 45 feet should be planted 20 to 50 feet away
    • Trees greater than 45 feet at maturity should be planted more than 50 feet away
  • 看看周围是否有由于地下设施而不应该种植的绿色金属或纤维玻璃盒子.
Picture showing the relative heights of Tall, Medium, and Small trees compared to a power pole.
Picture showing the relative heights of Tall, Medium, and Small trees compared to a power pole.

Who do I contact if I have tree pruning questions or issues?

Submit a Tree Trimming Service Request through SmartHub or the online tree trimming form or call 360-423-2210.

Providing safer, reliable power, through proper vegetation management that allows us to coexist in our urban forest.

Cowlitz PUD has been providing safe, affordable and reliable power to the residents of Cowlitz County for over 80 years. A key component of that reliability has been our vegetation management program. We believe that trees are an important part of what makes Cowlitz County a beautiful place to live.

We take a proactive approach to vegetation management near our power lines and electrical facilities. But we cannot be everywhere at once. 这就是为什么我们相信我们的客户是我们解决可能对我们的电力供应系统构成威胁的问题的能力的重要组成部分. Customer input, combined with regularly scheduled right-of-way maintenance, help to ensure that our power system is as reliable as possible.

我们还相信，向客户提供信息和教育，帮助他们在电线和电气设备附近做出正确的景观选择，将有助于防止未来的问题, for both our customers and line crews, when maintenance needs to be performed. For more information please select the appropriate link:

Right-of-Way Maintenance

Trees contacting the power lines are the leading cause of power outages on our system. That is why we do everything we can to find a healthy balance between our appreciation for trees, and our obligation to provide safe and reliable electric service. Through our regularly scheduled tree- trimming program, 我们引导树木远离电线生长，以帮助限制极端天气可能造成的损害(见图2). 1).

Tree side, under, and v pruning. topped tree.
Fig. 1 Tree trimming examples, topping used only as last resort.

Vegetation Clearances

Cowlitz PUD spends approximately $2 million a year on its vegetation management program. Our licensed and bonded contractors are professionals at right-of-way maintenance. 他们清理和修剪架空电线10英尺内的所有树木，以帮助确保我们电力系统的可靠性. The ultimate goal of our right-of-way maintenance program is shown in Figure 2.

Trees 10 feet from lines and 15 feet from pole
Figure 2 Preferred right-of-way clearances.

We realize that this is not always possible due to existing vegetation, and is why we work together with our customers to get as close to the ideal trim as we can. There are times when trees outside of the right-of-way pose a threat to electrical service.

Hazard Trees

colitz PUD承诺提供安全可靠的电力服务的一部分是解决有可能破坏电力设施的危险树木. These trees can be located within/outside our maintenance right-of-way, and are either, dead, in poor health, or have structural defects. If you see a tree that appears to be a danger to the power lines, please submit a Tree Trim Request/Trouble Ticket. If it requires immediate attention, call our 24hr Dispatch center at 360-423-2210.

Upon notification, or identification, we would dispatch personnel to assess the tree for its health and urgency for removal. We will make every effort to contact the customer/property owner to coordinate its removal.

How You Can Help

With over 119 miles of transmission lines, and 622 miles of distribution lines, we cannot always see when potential danger presents itself. That is why we ask that if you see a tree or vegetation encroaching upon, or posing a threat to our facilities and right of way, to please fill out a Tree Trimming Request/Trouble Ticket. There you will be  asked a few questions, and be able to attach a photo, that will help us to assess the situation and respond accordingly. 您也可以联系考利茨县PUD 360-423-2210，并要求被引导到植被管理部门.

Plan Ahead

If you are planning to do some landscaping, or even plant a tree, we ask that you keep some things in mind.

  • Call 811 before you dig
  • Trees and shrubs can be a problem for overhead and underground facilities.
  • Look up to see if there are overhead lines above or near your planting site.
  • Look around to see if there are green metal or fiberglass boxes that shouldn’t be planted near.

For more information on where to plant the right tree so that it’s in the right place, go to The Right Tree Book (PDF) 链接，在那里你可以找到更多十大正规网投排名在架空电线附近种植的最佳树种的信息, and how to plan your landscaping around our underground facilities.

Tree-Based Energy Conservation

Planting the right trees in the right places conserves energy and reduces your energy bills. Properly placed trees save energy by providing summer shade, winter warmth and winter windbreaks.

  • 夏天的好处:树荫减少了对空调的需求，使没有空调的家庭更舒适. 考虑在建筑物的西北和东北种植较小的落叶或常绿树木，以提供傍晚和清晨的遮荫.
  • Winter Benefits: Trees can reduce energy use for heating by blocking cold winter winds. 有效的防风树有延伸到地面的树冠和在冬天保持叶子的树枝(常青树)。. Junipers, spruces, firs, and evergreen shrubs are good choices for wind protection.

For more information on the benefits of trees in energy conservation please visit Arborday.org by clicking,  http://www.arborday.org/trees/climatechange/summershade.cfm

FAQ’s

Why do you prune trees from power lines?
Trees are the leading cause of power outages in our region. We prunes trees to promote reliable electrical service and to maintain a safe environment. Trees that grow into the power lines can cause problems in three ways:

  1. 安全——直接接触电线的树木会对带电的电线施加压力，导致树枝燃烧并掉到地上, sometimes causing fires in trees or nearby buildings. 靠近电线生长的树木是危险的，因为它们为电力传输到地面创造了潜在的路径. People that come into contact with this path (by touching, climbing, trimming, (或砍伐树木)将自己置于触电或严重电烧伤的严重危险之中.
  2. Storm-related outages – Wind, snow, and ice often damage trees. Branches, limbs and entire trees can fall on power lines resulting in power outages that can last for days.
  3. 电压损失-树木接触电力线会从电力系统中流失电力，导致电压损失. Low voltage can damage motor-driven appliances in homes, such as refrigerators or washing machines, and sensitive electronics such as computers.

What companies do you contract with to do tree trimming?
The Asplundh Tree Expert Co

Why do you need to prune so much of the tree? Can you shape trees for a better look?
Our primary goal is to deliver safe and reliable electric service to our customers. In order to accomplish this, we need to maintain a safe distance between trees and power lines. The minimum clearance for most power lines is 10 feet.

我们聘请了一组树木专家，以确保正确的修剪技术，以保持您的树活, healthy, and out of harm’s way. Although the initial prune with the directional pruning technique may appear severe, this method is recommended over topping or rounding-over trees. Directional-pruned trees are less susceptible to disease and insect problems, and the overall structure of the tree is stronger, more resistant to high winds and heavy ice. Directional pruning removes only those branches that pose a threat to power lines. Future growth is directed away from the power lines.

Why don’t you prune less off the tree and come back more often? Wouldn’t this resolve the problem of badly shaped trees and trees in the lines?
有超过622英里的配电线路和超过119英里的输电线路为48个,000 customers, to keep the cost of power low to our customers, trees are pruned on a 3-year pruning cycle.

My trees aren’t touching the lines, so why do you have to prune them?
We consider several factors when determining whether to prune a tree. Will strong winds cause the tree to make contact with the wires? Will movement in the wires, such as sagging due to high temperatures, cause the wires to contact the tree? Will wet rainy weather cause branches to droop? Your trees may not be touching the wires now, but they may before the next pruning cycle. We plan ahead for potential problems.

Do you prune trees from the wire that runs from the pole to my house?
我们修剪位于电线杆之间以及与电线杆或服务缰绳相连的前10英尺的树木. Maintaining clearance after the first 10 feet is the property owner’s responsibility. This is not a high-voltage line, however, we recommend that you hire a professional service to do the pruning. Cowlitz PUD will provide a courtesy disconnect so that this work can be done safely. Please call our Engineering Dept. 拨打360-501-9546安排预约，断开您的服务，以便您可以安全地执行此工作.

When do you remove trees?
If a tree poses a hazard to safety and property, or if pruning will undermine the health and overall stability of the tree, we work with the property owner to remove it. Unless there is an emergency, we will contact you in person or in writing before removing a tree from your property.

Trees in the lines wouldn’t be a problem if you had underground lines. Why don’t you put all your lines underground?
There are a number of obstacles to placing all power lines underground. Existing trees and their root systems would be impacted, undermining the health and stability of the trees. Considerable expense, time, and disruption would be involved in trenching through existing road systems and landscapes. The cost of designing, engineering, and installing an underground system in an established neighborhood is very high. Customers would have to pay for an underground system.In general, maintenance, repair, 重建地下系统更加复杂和昂贵，因为线路和结构被埋在地下，看不到，不容易接近.

Do you remove the debris after you prune?
Normally our crews remove tree limbs and the debris created. In the case of tree removal, we will all material possible. The logs are left by the right-of-way for the customer to remove, or in some cases are left for the public if the customer does not want them.

When tree debris is caused by a severe storm we are not always able to remove it. In these situations, crews cut broken and uprooted trees so they can access the damaged area to make repairs. Brush and wood may be left at the site so that they can proceed with other restoration work.

我雇了一家树木公司来修剪/移除我的树，他们说他们不能，因为它太靠近线了——我现在该怎么办呢?
只有合格的线路清除修剪器才能在我们的配电或输电线路附近工作. 如果你想有一个树，太靠近电源线移除或修剪，我们将执行一个“准备”免费给你, assuming all necessary permits are in place. 这意味着我们将尽可能多地移除采油树，以消除对不合格线路清除采油树修剪器的潜在电气危害, making the tree “ready” for removal or pruning.

Can I prune my own trees?
州和联邦安全法规要求，任何在高压电线10英尺范围内工作的人都必须接受适当的培训和认证. Most private tree companies do not meet this requirement. Before these companies can prune or remove trees, 考利茨PUD必须首先修剪树木，以尽量减少或消除树枝落入线的风险. This is for your safety.The power lines that run from pole-to-pole carry high-voltage electricity. Each year, 许多业余的树木修剪工由于直接或间接地通过工具或树枝接触通电线路而严重受伤或死亡. Poles, 梯子和高架升降机如果与通电线路接触，很容易形成危险的电气通道. By pruning your own trees, you may be putting yourself in a dangerous position. We recommend that you hire a professional service and that you check with Cowlitz PUD before beginning.

Do you have information about the right trees and shrubs to plant under the lines?
Please do not plant vines, shrubs or trees directly adjacent to or on power poles or guy wires. Keep all vegetation at least 10 feet away from poles. Our crews must have quick access to climb poles when making repairs.Depending on the species, young trees mature to different heights. When you select new trees, anticipate the height and spread of the mature tree in relation to power lines.
•在电线正下方或20英尺范围内种植的树木的成熟高度应低于25英尺
• Trees that mature to 25 to 45 feet should be planted 20 to 50 feet away
• Trees greater than 45 feet at maturity should be planted more than 50 feet away
Smaller trees will remain healthier and look more natural without pruning. They will enhance your neighborhood environment while supporting a safe, reliable electrical service.
Cowlitz PUD promotes the right tree in the right place. We offer a free publication, The Right Tree Book, with information on selecting and planting appropriate trees and shrubs around utility lines. A free copy can be obtained from our Main Office reception located at 961 12th Ave. Longview, or you may print out a copy located insert link here.

How do I request wood chips?
You can request wood chips from Tree Trim/Trouble Ticket form. 当我们的工作人员到达你所在地区时，我们会与你联系安排投放芯片的时间和地点.

Can customers request that Cowlitz PUD prune trees?
Yes, 如果你注意到紧急危险，如电线杆上的树枝折断或电线杆上的树木有电弧和火花, please call 360-423-2210 and stay on the line to be connected to our System Operator, or a customer service representative. 要报告与电力线中的树木有关的非紧急问题，您可以通过以下链接提交树木故障单 . 您也可以附上照片，以帮助我们更好地评估问题，以便我们可以与适当的人员作出回应. You can also call 360-423-2210, Monday-Thursday between 7:00am and 5:30pm.

Under what circumstances can you enter my yard and prune my trees?
As an electrical utility, we are responsible for maintaining our system and to protect the health, safety and general welfare of the public. 客户必须允许在合理的时间内进入他们的房屋进行检查, maintain, and repair the electrical system. We will attempt to notify our customers before we access their property.

Who do I contact if I have tree pruning questions or issues?
Call 360-423-2210, you may also submit our online tree trimming form at Tree Trim/Trouble Ticket form. A Cowlitz PUD employee will respond to your questions or concerns, usually within two working days.

What is the difference between transmission and distribution power lines?
Transmission lines carry higher voltages over longer distances. Our transmission lines carry 115kV and 230kV. Our Distribution system carries lower voltages shorter distances. Our distribution lines are 12.5kV.