AEP/PSO Tree Trimming - Public Meeting

AEP/PSO has announced a public meeting on Tuesday night to discuss updates to its "Electric Reliability Plan" and its approach to tree trimming and tree removal. The following generously excerpts from AEP/PSO's announcement:

Public Service Company of Oklahoma today announced enhancements to its electric Reliability Plan that involve customer-responsive approaches to tree trimming and tree removal.

The enhancements stem from ongoing discussions with homeowners and community stakeholders over the past few months. These discussions helped to identify workable solutions that enable PSO to continue to improve reliability while managing the urban forest in a professional manner that maintains the beauty of our urban forest and meets customers’ expectations.

A public meeting to outline and answer questions on the enhancements is scheduled for 6 p.m., Nov. 29 at the Tulsa Garden Center, 2435 S. Peoria.

“A majority of customers told us in a recent survey that tree trimming and tree removal are essential for better reliability and for safety reasons,” (said Bill McKamey, PSO vice president for External Affairs). “Yet we also know that there are times our customers want options to the required four-year trim or a proposed tree removal.”

Trees remain the biggest challenge PSO faces in providing reliable power, and the company developed the enhancements to its Reliability Plan working with customers, regulators, homeowner associations and other community stakeholders.

The enhancements include:

• A Customer-Directed tree trimming Option
• A new Tree Replacement Program
• A Tree Voucher Program
• A Community Oversight and Review Committee

“Going forward, when PSO notifies a property owner that a particular tree on their property needs to be removed or significantly trimmed, the owner will have the option to hire a private tree maintenance contractor at their own expense to maintain a minimum allowed clearance between their trees and PSO’s power lines,” McKamey said.

The new Customer-Directed Option is for property owners who are not willing to have their trees removed or trimmed to meet the established four-year clearance cycle. Instead, arrangements can be worked out to allow for a more frequent trim of the trees and the homeowner will pay for the cost of the trimming.

Under the plan, the property owner would select a private tree maintenance contractor who is certified to work close to energized power lines. The property owner will be responsible for all the financial and scheduling arrangements for the trim and PSO will provide information to the contractor about the clearance that’s required.

An additional enhancement to the Reliability Plan is a Tree Replacement Program along city streets where tall, fast-growing trees must be removed because they interfere with electric lines.

“We will partner with local gardening organizations, neighborhood homeowner associations and others to replant suitable trees that won’t interfere with power lines in the future,” McKamey said.

Also, PSO announced it will offer a Tree Voucher Program for homeowners with yards where a tree needs to be removed to maintain electric reliability. The voucher can be used by the homeowner at participating tree nurseries for a discount on the purchase of a suitable replacement tree or other shrubbery.

PSO, and the community leaders and stakeholders, also carved out a proposal to create a Community Oversight and Review Committee. It would include a panel of Tulsans who will collaborate on solutions to resolve tree related issues that come up. Members of the proposed 12 to 14 person committee will be determined jointly by PSO, the Mayor’s office, the Oklahoma Corporation Commission staff and District 9 City Councilor Susan Neal.