Tree Wire to be Used for Future Circuit Work in NYSEG and RG&E Service Area
Tree wire will increase resiliency and reliability throughout New York
Companies have invested more than $100 million in tree wire installation since 2019
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — September 2, 2025 — New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas and Electric (RG&E) will upgrade to tree wire to conduct future circuit work in their service territories. This specially designed wire will help prevent future outages, increasing energy reliability and resiliency in the communities they serve. Since 2019, the Companies have invested more than $100 million in tree wire.
“Falling trees and limbs account for more than half of the outages across NYSEG and RG&E’s service territory,” said Patricia Nilsen, CEO of NYSEG and RG&E. “We are always looking for ways to modernize and strengthen our grid. By using tree wire, we anticipate fewer outages for customers, particularly during extreme weather events including high winds and storms.”
Currently, NYSEG and RG&E’s grid uses a combination of bare wire, poly-covered wire, and tree wire. Tree wire reduces susceptibility to outages caused by trees, branches, and other objects because it’s specially insulated, mitigating the risk of electrical faults whenever there is contact with a tree.
The Companies have installed approximately 207 miles of tree wire since 2019. Each mile of this wire costs roughly $700,000 to install. The conversion to tree wire will improve energy reliability and reduce weather-related service interruptions. NYSEG and RG&E have more than 56,000 miles of electric distribution lines. The Companies will use tree wire at any location where there is a risk of trees encroaching the line. They are also utilizing tree wire for approximately 90 percent of special projects.
Along with the prioritization of tree wire to strengthen electric lines, NYSEG and RG&E are mitigating outages through vegetation management. Last year, the Companies invested more than $90 million to trim and remove trees near electrical lines that pose a risk to the electric grid and customer service. A majority of the $90 million supported a six-year cycle trim program that covers the 62,000 miles of utility lines across both Companies.
Media Contact:
Michael Baggerman