Tree Trimming Program
The Vegetation Management Department maintains approximately 650 miles of distribution lines on a three-year rotating cycle. Scheduling of work is accomplished according to defined electrical distribution circuits, a circuit being a definable electrical entity distributing power from an electrical substation to our customers. Maintenance trimming is also accomplished by circuit.
Our circuits range in size from approximately two to twenty five miles in length. Prioritizing of these circuits is based upon reliability, customer requests and visual inspections. The standard voltage is 7,200 volts phase to ground and 13,400 volts phase to phase.
The distribution vegetation maintenance program is based upon nationally recognized standards of tree care and vegetation management practices and adopted to Gainesville's environment and specific operating concerns.
These standards and practices include, but are not limited to the following:
- National Electric Safety Code
- ANSI A300 (Tree care - standard practices)
- ANSI Z133.1 (Tree care - safety practices)
- Shigo - Pruning trees near electrical utility lines
- Shigo - Tree Pruning
- Matheny and Clark - Evaluation of hazardous trees in urban areas
Components of the distribution maintenance program are:
- Routine utility tree pruning
- Selective tree removals based upon hazardous conditions
- Selective use of herbicides
- Selective use of tree growth regulators
- Wood chip recycling program
