|
March 2005 Articles
Tree Trimming
Is Essential For Reliable Power Delivery
By Tom Stone
Supervisor of Purchasing & Contractors
Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative takes outages very seriously,
especially the ones that are preventable. We upgrade our equipment
as necessary, and in times of tremendous foliage growth, we hire
additional trimming crews. We’ve installed animal guards
on transformer connections to prevent contact from squirrels and
other pole climbers, all with the goal of keeping the hours you’re
spending without power to a minimum.
Our goal is to trim the entire service area every 4 years. There
have been times when we’ve experienced incredible growth
that certain areas have needed to be trimmed sooner. In 2004,
tree-line contact caused approximately 5% of our outages. This
equates to 49 minutes per member.
As you can see, vegetation management-including tree trimming
- is an important aspect of your local electric cooperative’s
goal of delivering power to you that is safe, reliable, environmentally
responsible and affordable. In fact, your co-op’s vegetation
management program can help reduce outages caused by things such
as branches falling on lines during storms, shrubbery interfering
with voltage levels or weeds in right-of-way areas making access
to equipment difficult.
Here are some questions and answers about your co-op’s tree
trimming efforts. These guidelines below apply to our primary
conductors. Most service drops to residential properties are trimmed
to a lesser extent. Trees that appear to affect service drops
are actually the responsibility of the member. If you need more
details, please call your co-op for help.
My trees aren’t touching the power lines, so
why do you have to trim them?
Your co-op needs to take care of trees that could pose safety
or reliability issues before someone is injured or experiences
a power outage. This applies to trees with branches that could
come into contact with power lines during heavy winds, as well
as trees with branches that could bounce into power lines on windy
days, causing blinking lights or momentary outages. Dead and overhanging
trees also pose a hazard and need to be addressed either by your
co-op or the landowner.
How will my trees be pruned?
Your co-op will prune a tree only when the tree poses the safety
and reliability risks of coming into contact with power lines.
Your co-op has hired Asplundh Tree Experts to trim the majority
of our lines. They carefully follow pruning guidelines according
to recognized industry standards.
Why do you have to cut away so much of the tree?
Tree-trimming crews are very diligent in trimming only what is
absolutely necessary. National standards require that a minimum
distance of 10 feet from energized or potentially energized electrical
equipment must be maintained. Our goal is to trim at least 15
feet from the lines depending on the variety of tree. Trimmers
also follow guidelines established by certified arborists and
the federal Rural Utilities Service. The crews also identify expected
growth patterns of trees between one pruning and the next pruning
cycle; some faster-growing trees may require more clearance than
others.
Carol’s article on the opposite page gives some useful information
on planting your trees and shrubs. With a little forethought,
you should be able to avoid the necessity of having your tree
trimmed. If in doubt, please contact the co-op and a representative
will be sent out to evaluate the situation.
Top
Meet
Your Employees: Bob Drew, Chief Lineman
By Jaci Teune
Marketing Manager
This month’s “Meet Your Employees”
section will feature long-time Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative
employee Bob Drew.
A lineman for 32 years, Bob enjoys the challenges that each day
brings. “I like fixing things,” comments Bob. “For
the most part, each day is something different to work on.”
Prior to working at your co-op, Bob worked for both a moving company
and a glass shop. As a kid, he would help his Dad, Seeley Drew,
up at the old Agway store with inventory. “We’d spend
hours counting bolts!” Sounds a little like inventory at
the co-op!
A High Point Regional High School graduate and a native to the
area, Bob and his wife Dianne reside in Lafayette. They have two
grown children, Kyle and Patrick.
When he’s not at the co-op working to keep your lights on,
you might find Bob in the woods during hunting season. Asked about
his largest white tail adventure, Bob reflects, “My biggest
deer and biggest rack are on two different animals. I took a 170
lbs deer with a bow and I also got a nice 10 pointer with a rifle.”
Bob hunts in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
If you’re a potato lover, you’ve just met your gardener!
Everyone in the office benefits from Bob’s potato growing.
“I plant about 50-60 lbs of Kennebec tubers in the spring,
hill them up once, and weed them. I get enough potatoes for myself
and to share with everyone else.” I’ve tried every
form of potato growing without much luck. Bob tells me, “You
need to have sour soil. An untouched hay field works best.”
I think all the cow manure in my garden might just be my potato
problem!
While he hasn’t made any maple syrup recently, Bob is still
working off of his supply from 5 years ago. “It takes 50
gallons of sap to produce 1 gallon of syrup. The time it takes
to boil the sap down is tremendous,” said Bob, “Let
alone all the energy.”
Whether trouble-shooting a problem on the line, connecting a new
service, or working storm trouble, Bob Drew is one of the people
at Sussex Rural Electric Cooperative that you can count on!
Top
When
planting trees look around!
By Carol Speck
Member Services Manager
Spring is a time of rebirth, when Nature starts
its annual renewal process. It is also a time of tremendous growth,
and a time when many people decide to plant - flowers, vegetables,
and trees.
Your electric cooperatives’ lines, poles and substation
structures are engineered to withstand many forces of Mother Nature.
However, they may not withstand the force of a fallen tree or
large branch, which could lead to a disruption of service. Trees
touching power lines actually drain electricity off the electrical
system, and in severe cases, can cause your co-op’s line-protection
devices to take a circuit out of service.
That’s why it is so important for you to plan before you
plant any foliage in your yard. Also be knowledgeable of the growth
patterns of trees and shrubs before you plant, so that when they
grow, they don’t come dangerously close to power lines.
As a rule, trees that grow 30 feet tall should be planted at least
30 feet away from electric lines. A tree that matures to 15 feet
and shorter should be planted a minimum of 10 feet away from lines.
The farther away from power lines a tree is planted, the better.
Keep in mind too, not to plant near transformer pad mounts or
directly over underground lines. For members in subdivisions with
underground power lines, some lots have a transformer that cannot
be maintained properly if they are obstructed by shrubs and other
landscaping. Keep foliage 10 feet away from all above ground equipment.
Planting directly over underground utility lines of any kind can
disrupt services as the vegetation’s root system develops.
People are usually very passionate about their trees. In this
area it takes many years of care to grow a beautiful full-sized
tree. The last thing we all want to see happen is for that tree
to be trimmed in order to accommodate a power line, but that is
exactly what can happen. So please, look around, up and down,
before planting your next tree. This little extra step could help
prevent the unnecessary trimming in the mature years of your tree’s
life. Please visit the National Arbor Day Foundation at www.arborday.org
for more information on planting trees appropriate for our location.
Top
WeatherBug
is back to work
By Gail Hensal
Marketing Assistant
If you have ever watched WNBC TV news’ weather
report you might have heard about the WeatherBug. The WeatherBug
features area schools and their local weather conditions, providing
us and surrounding communities with up to date current weather.
Many area schools are hooked up, including a local school in Wantage,
“The Wantage School.”
Recently, the principal, Christopher Yeager, noticed that the
weather readings collected by the device called the “sensor”
was indicating the same temperature and wind conditions all day,
everyday. After a quick phone call, it was determined that the
sensor had seen the end of its life. Once Mr. Yeager received
a new sensor he requested the help of our staff to install it
on the school’s rooftop. Our Supervisor of Technical Services,
Chris Reese and Supervisor of Operations, John Buchell made arrangements.
Lineman Mike Thomas (pictured) and Ray Johnson re-connected a
new sensor using a bucket truck
The WeatherBug Tracking Station is a state-of-the-art weather
monitoring system that is simple to operate. The WeatherBug station
is easily installed on a school roof where it can record up to
27 different real-time weather measurements. The weather data
is fed into the on-line educational program, “WeatherBug
Achieve Classroom,” as well as the WeatherBug at TV station
WNBC in New York and in many instances, to one of 100 broadcast
partners across the country.
The WeatherBug at the Wantage School has been in existence for
about 4 years, and was installed at no cost to the school. Students
can relate to the actual weather that is occurring at their school
during any given moment. It gives the teachers a useful tool in
the classroom by enhancing lessons in such classes as earth science.
Nothing beats seeing the weather happen right before your eyes.
Instead of having the students imagine the wind direction and
strength, they can watch it happen before their very eyes. Principal
Yeager also uses it to gauge whether or not the students should
go out for recess. He said he receives calls throughout the day
from the other area schools to check on the “actual weather.”
It helps make a decision on questionable weather days.
If you have access to a computer and the Internet why not get
the “bug?” Just go to www.weatherbug.com and download
the free version of weather bug or you can go to www.wnbc.com,
look for the “weather and traffic” section, and you
will see the picture of the little WeatherBug. Click on it and
follow the directions. It’s that easy and fun too!
Top
News & Events
SUSSEX / WANTAGE -
Sussex Fire Department & Ladies Auxiliary
St. Patrick’s dinner dance, March 12th, 2005. Doors open
6:30PM, Dinner 7:30PM, DJ 9-1AM. $25 per person. Contact 973-875-1078
or 973-875-8422 or see a Sussex Fire Department member for tickets.
Spirit of the Arts
Meetings are held on Tuesdays, at various times in the afternoon
or evening at 55 Bank Street, Sussex. Call Sandy 973-875-2068.
VERNON
Bingo Mondays
6:00pm Monday. Games begin at 7:15pm, Vernon VFW, Route 94, Vernon
call 973-764-9380
Vernon Kiwanis
Meets at 7:30am on the second, third and fourth Tuesdays of every
month at Vernon High School. Call 973-827-1188.
Medicare Presentation
All senior citizens are cordially invited to attend a presentation
on the Essentials of Medicare Program. Thomas McGrath will give
this presentation and Barbara Weller from S.H.I.P. on Thursday,
April 7, 2005 at 11 a.m. at the Vernon Township Senior Center,
21 Church St., Vernon.
COUNTY WIDE
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Sussex County are recruiting
volunteers for its school based mentoring program. 973-300-4149
Veterans’ Transportation
Free door-to-door bus service is provided to Lyons and East Orange
VA Medical Facilities for Sussex County veterans. Tuesdays and
Thursdays. Call 973-579-0480.
Pass it Along
Sussex County is in desperate need of canned goods and non-perishable
food for the local food pantries. Pass it Along is asking groups
of all ages to hold a food drive. Whether you are in a youth group,
Boy Scout troop, church, or place of business, please consider
collecting food for Sussex County’s families in need. Call
973-726-9777 or Email: volunteer@passitalong.org
Daytimers Retirees’ Group
Make some new friends by joining this very interactive retirees’
group where they exchange ideas and share experiences, hobbies
and plans for the future. Free. To register, call 800-336-5273
or visit www.saintclares.org and register online.
Meals on Wheels
Is seeking volunteers to deliver a mid-day meal to homebound seniors
in Sussex County. It would just take an hour of your time one
day a week. Call 973-383-3123.
POSTING OF ANNOUNCEMENTS
If you would like to list your clubs and/or organization event
you can call, stop by or even e-mail us with the information.
Currents is published monthly; all submissions must be to SREC
by the 10th of the prior month of the event. E-mail to: info@sussexrec.com.
We reserve the right to edit any requests.
|
