Why doesn’t Western trim trees as other power companies do, and instead cuts them down?
Western treats each situation on its right of way individually, working to maintain a balance between our requirements for safety and reliability with our commitment to being a good neighbor. Trees and transmission lines often make lousy neighbors, especially when tall, fast-growing trees are planted under power lines or right next to them. Trees can carry electricity from nearby lines down through their trunks and this voltage can zap people, pets or other objects that get near enough to the “electrified” tree. Trees taller than power lines that are too close to the line can be blown over in high winds, pulling the line down from supporting towers or poles, even while the line remains energized—thus creating a very dangerous, life-threatening situation for an unaware passerby. Continually trimming trees that are close to a high-voltage transmission line is not as safe as removing them. Trimming trees near high-voltage, energized power lines is dangerous work that can be deadly. In 199
