NYSEG Trimming Trees Along 20 Miles of Electric Power Lines in the Towns of Granville and Salem

BINGHAMTON, NY — April 13, 2021 — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) announced today that crews recently started proactive tree trimming work in the towns of Granville and Salem in Washington County to protect the electrical system from hazards caused by fallen branches and vegetation overgrowth. The trimming activity will extend approximately 20 miles along the Granville-Salem 625 circuit, which delivers electricity to customers’ homes and businesses. The efforts will include trimming within the company’s right of way as well as removing hazard trees that can cause damage to the circuit if they were to break or fall. 

Crews will be working along County Route 31, New York Route 149, New York Route 22 as well as Waites Way, Baker Road and Lily Pond Road. 

“Trees and branches breaking, falling and coming in contact with our power lines damages the electrical equipment and is the leading cause of outages in NYSEG service areas,” said NYSEG Arborist Erin Perry. “We’re proactively trimming trees along this circuit, and throughout our entire service area, to minimize the risk that trees cause to our infrastructure and reduce the likelihood that a broken branch can cause a power outage for our customers.”

In addition to routine maintenance tree trimming, crews will patrol the region for hazard trees to evaluate and pursue future full tree removals. Due to the current thawing conditions off the main roadways, crews may need to establish temporary lane closures in order to safely access the trees in certain areas. The saturated conditions of the roadway shoulders will limit capabilities of trucks from accessing trees from an off-road position. To access certain areas of this circuit in particularly challenging terrain, trimmers may need to climb the trees to complete the trimming process. 

NYSEG conducts tree-trimming work year-round and continuously prunes or removes trees and vegetation that could potential damage the system and cause outages. Additionally, the company is placing particular emphasis on areas where trees pose an increased risk for outages.
 
NYSEG advises customers that temporary and minor traffic delays may occur during the project period. The company also asks that motorist use extra caution when near crews and work zones.

“Our contractor crews from Lewis Tree Service will be seen working along roadways throughout the duration of this work,” said Perry. “We thank our customers in advance for their attentiveness as they pass through work zones. This will allow crews to complete their trimming efforts safely and efficiently.”

Trimming work is expected to be completed by May 1, 2021.