BERLIN, Conn. – April 29, 2011 –Today is Arbor Day and Connecticut Light and Power (CL&P) reminds customers to plan before they plant. Trees are the number one cause of CL&P power outages. Planting the right tree in the right place can help reduce the risk of a future tree-related outage.
"Arbor Day is a great time to plant a tree, we just want to make sure our customers think about how those trees may someday affect the reliability of their electric service," said Sean Redding, supervisor – Vegetation Management, CL&P. "We spend millions of dollars each year trimming trees that grow too close the power lines. Trimming is also necessary to provide sufficient working space so line workers can maintain a safe distance from the power lines when repairing them. Planning before you plant is the smart thing to do."
When planting trees near roadside power lines, CL&P recommends low-growing trees such as crabapple and dogwood. Medium-sized trees, which grow to heights of 25 to 45 feet, can be planted between 15 and 30 feet from the power lines. Examples include arborvitae and flowering cherry trees. Large-growing trees, reaching heights of more then 45 feet should be planted at least 30 feet from the power lines. Oak, maple and pine trees are some examples.
