CORE Electric Cooperative maintains an aggressive vegetation management program to minimize fire risk and outages. We work year-round to clear overhead distribution lines within our 5,000-square-mile service area and address member reports of hazardous vegetation.
Vegetation management along overhead distribution and transmission line rights of way helps reduce power outages for our members and enhances safety for our members, employees and contractors. We use an inspection process that identifies vegetation that could be a hazard to the lines and ensures that vegetation management activities follow our pruning and clearance specifications.
With over 5,000 miles of overhead lines across the service territory, scheduled pruning and hazard tree removal is spread out during a 6-year cycle where we visit every distribution circuit at least once. To ensure that vegetation does not interfere with the power lines before the next inspection, pruning specifications require a clearance of 10 to 24 feet, depending on species.
If your area is scheduled to be inspected and maintained, you will receive a letter in the mail notifying you prior to work. You will then be contacted by our pre-inspectors to discuss the work prior to it being performed.
CORE uses qualified line clearance contractors to perform much of our vegetation management work. Trucks and crews performing these tasks in your community will display ‘CORE Contractor’ decals on their trucks. These contractors are required to follow industry standards and guidelines for safety, quality and tree health. Members, property owners, and untrained contractors should not prune or cut trees and plants near power lines.
Please contact us at (800) 332-9540 if you see a potentially hazardous tree or other vegetation concern that threatens our power lines. We will assess the risk posed to our equipment and, if necessary, remove the potential hazard at no cost to you. You may also contact us with any questions, comments or concerns about the vegetation management program.