Overview
Trees are a valuable asset in commercial, private, and public landscapes. They add beauty, help our environment, and add value to the property. However, these same trees can be a major challenge for Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative (CCEC).
- Trees are one of the major causes of power outages in areas with overhead utility lines.
- When trees contact live wires, they may become conductors of electricity, causing power outages or creating dangerous situations for anyone coming in contact with the trees.
CCEC works hard to maintain its rights-of-way near overhead lines to provide safe and reliable electrical service.
- We employ a certified arborist to oversee our vegetation management program.
- For most of our rights of way, routine vegetation management activities are completed based on:
- Expected re-growth rates of the tree species
- Amount of clearance obtained at the time of pruning
- Available program funding
- Trees planted in the proper location can actually lower your electric bill by providing shade in the summer and protection from cold winds in the winter. Visit the Arbor Day website for more information on planting the right tree in the right place.
If you have trees in your yard that are endangering our lines and equipment, please give us a call at (252) 247-3107 or (800) 682-2217 or complete the form to request trimming.
Before planting new trees, here are a few things to keep in mind. Remember! Call 811 at least 3 days in advance (not counting weekends and holidays) to have your underground utilities marked. They can be reached by simply dialing 8-1-1.
Right Tree, Right Place!
Before planting new trees to improve the look of your yard, you will need to keep a few things in mind.
Low Tree Zone: Avoid planting within 20 feet of power lines. If planting is unavoidable, only plant shrubs and small trees that reach a mature height of 25 feet or less.
Medium Tree Zone: Plant medium trees (over 25 feet when mature) at least 25 feet away from power lines.
Large Tree Zone: Plant large trees (over 35 feet when mature) at least 50 feet away from power lines.
Pruning Zone: Trees and shrubs will be pruned if their limbs grow within 15 feet of overhead power lines to help prevent outages.
Clearance Zone: Keep shrubs at least 12 feet away from transformer doors and 3 feet away from the sides.
Keep Clear: Keep area around meter clear from obstructions and debris for visibility and safety.
Our Practices
Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative’s goal is to provide safe and reliable electric service to our members. To do this, we must manage the growth of certain vegetation that could interfere with providing you reliable service.
Cooperative crews manage unwanted vegetation within right-of-way easements using a variety of methods which are periodically evaluated for safety and environmental impact. The cooperative uses an Integrated Vegetation Management (IVM) approach, which includes a combination of mechanical (mowing and sky trimming), manual (hand-cutting), and chemical (herbicides) methods.
Maintenance is performed throughout the year. We utilize line clearance contract crews to routinely trim and remove unwanted vegetation surrounding more than 2,500 miles of overhead and underground distribution lines. When herbicides are used, these applicators utilize low-volume backpack methods, specifically targeting trees and vegetation that can grow directly into the overhead lines, as well as restrict access to the poles on our system. Herbicides used include small amounts of Garlon 3A, Polaris AC, Method, and Escort are used in conjunction with each other to provide the best treatment for the planned area. A color dye is also used for identification and auditing purposes. All of these products have been tested and approved for this use by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). To learn more, visit the EPA’s Chemical and Products Database.
Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative manages its right-of-way with concern for the environment. By using herbicide that specifically targets woody vegetation it allows the native grasses to grow, creating habitat for wildlife as well as an environment that pollinators can thrive in. By doing so, this also allows the cooperative to continue to provide safe and reliable electric service to our members and access the utility poles within our easements efficiently in the event maintenance or repairs are needed.
CCEC Teams & Contractors
Who Will Be Performing the Work on My Trees?
Only qualified utility line clearance arborists who meet OSHA qualifications are legally permitted to work within 10 feet of power lines, or work on a tree that has branches within 10 feet of power lines. Line clearance arborists are trained to prune trees according to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) A-300 pruning standards and follow industry best practices, which helps preserve the health of trees.
Danger! Homeowners should never hire a private tree contractor to do work within 10 feet of power lines or attempt to do the work themselves.
All CCEC employees and contractors will be in vehicles identified with a CCEC logo.