EDITOR'S NOTE: Xcel Energy has announced plans to trim trees near power lines here in Canadian. The crews will begin work sometime around the end of May and the first of June. The project will be carried out by Asplundh. Xcel will initiate an outbound call campaign informing local property owners and residents when the trimmers will be in the area, and will provide customers with Asplundh's contact information should they need to communicate with trimmers ahead of time. Asplundh crews will knock on doors before starting tree trimming, and will continue work if the homeowner is not home.

Weather impacts to electric system reduced by cutting limbs near power lines

AMARILLO—Texas and New Mexico communities served by Xcel Energy benefit from high electric service reliability, and the company’s regular cycles of tree trimming play an important role in preventing tree-related power outages while lessening the chance of wildfire fueled by overgrown vegetation.

“Trees are valuable assets in our communities, but when limbs grow too close to our lines, they can greatly impact the reliability of service to our customers,” said Michael Swanson, Xcel Energy program manager for Vegetation Management in Texas and New Mexico. “Through our tree trimming program, we trim branches away from our lines as an effective means of preventing outages.”

Xcel Energy’s Vegetation Management group requires trimming to a minimum clearance of six feet horizontal and 10 feet vertical clearance from power lines. Only company employees and contractors can trim within six feet of energized power lines. Asplundh is the primary contractor that handles this work for Xcel Energy.

“Homeowners planning to trim trees on their property should never hire private trimmers to do work near our lines or attempt the work themselves,” Swanson said. “If customers have concerns or questions about trees that are adjacent to lines, they can contact Xcel Energy customer service for assistance.”

Answers to frequently asked questions about Xcel Energy’s tree trimming program can also be found at xcelenergy.com under Vegetation Management.

Prior to trimming, Xcel Energy initiates an outbound call campaign informing property owners and residents when trimmers will be in the area and will provide customers with Asplundh’s phone number should they need to communicate with trimmers ahead of time. Asplundh crews will knock on doors before starting tree trimming and will continue work if the homeowner is not home.

Xcel Energy employs an arborist who coordinates with Asplundh to regularly inspect and trim trees near electric feeder circuits across the company’s Texas and New Mexico service area. Most area towns are on a five-year cycle of trimming. Trees are not only trimmed a safe distance away from power lines, but also pruned back far enough to account for growth before the next trimming cycle.

Many issues with trees can be avoided if trees are planted way from lines, and customers should be aware of the trees that hold up best in the area’s unique climate. Xcel Energy provides a downloadable guide to planting trees on the Sustainable Landscaping page at xcelenergy.com. The tree guide for Texas and New Mexico includes information on siting trees and shrubs near power lines and discusses which trees are best adapted to the region’s semiarid climate.