Tree Management Program

 

At KREMC, providing you with reliable electricity is our top priority. Vegetation growing too close to power lines is a leading cause of outages and safety hazards. To manage this, we have partnered with the professional arborists at Mint City to conduct a comprehensive vegetation management program in our service area.

Here’s what you can expect when crews are scheduled to work near your property:

Step 1: Expert Identification and Clear Marking Crews from Mint City will first walk the area to identify vegetation that poses a threat to power lines. To clearly communicate the planned work, our crews use a simple marking system:

• An ‘X’ on the trunk signifies a large tree is scheduled for complete removal.
• A colored dot on the trunk indicates the tree is scheduled for trimming only.
• A painted slash (/) is used to mark smaller trees and dense brush that are also scheduled for removal.

Step 2: Clear Communication We believe in keeping you informed. A Mint City representative will attempt to speak with you directly. If you are not home, they will leave a detailed door hanger that outlines the work planned and provides contact information for any questions.

Step 3: Completing the Necessary Work The door hanger serves as our formal notice of scheduled maintenance. To maintain a safe and reliable electrical grid for the entire community, our crews will proceed with the work as detailed on the notice.

Step 4: Site Cleanup & Your Responsibilities Our goal is to leave your property as we found it.

• What Mint City Will Do: All branches and limbs from tree work will be processed through a wood chipper and hauled away. To respect your property, our crews will thoroughly rake and clean up any finished or maintained lawn areas. In natural or wooded areas, smaller debris will be left to decompose naturally.
• What is Left for the Property Owner: The property owner is responsible for the removal of the tree stump and any large sections of the trunk or logs that are too substantial to be chipped.

Comprehensive Right-of-Way Maintenance In addition to tree work, our program includes other effective methods for keeping the power lines clear:

• Right-of-Way Mowing: You may see crews mowing grass, brush, and small saplings directly beneath power lines to ground level.
• Selective Herbicide Application: To manage the regrowth of tall-growing vegetation, our certified applicators may use low-volume herbicide. This targeted method is a highly effective, environmentally conscious tool for controlling specific plant species that threaten power lines while preserving compatible, low-growing vegetation.

We appreciate your understanding and partnership in keeping our community safely powered.