August 2017 - Vol 12 Issue 4

August 2017 | Vol. 12, Issue 4

Co-op Hotline

Vegetation Management

Right-of-Way clearing for reliability

Cincinnati Zoo Partnership

REMC clippings help feed animals

See story on page 6

Right-of-Way clearing
key for reliability

Bryan K. Mathews
General Manager

There are many ways that your electric containing specific enzymes. Your co-op Another challenge has been the Emerald
cooperative provides you with safe, reliable discontinued the use of herbicides in mid- Ash Borer. This beetle has killed millions of
electric service. One of the most common 1980, when management decided using it ash trees across the U.S. since being found
and crucial ways is referred to as “right-of- provided too much liability. The herbicides in Michigan in 2002. Your co-op cut down
way clearing”. were not as environmentally friendly then as 914 dead ash trees in 2016, because of the
they are today. Seven years ago, we decided damage created by the Ash Borer. This year
A right-of-way (ROW) refers to a strip to reinstate our ROW herbicide program and we have already cut down 810 dead ash trees.
of land underneath or around power lines the results have been very good. Your co-op
that your electric co-op has the right and has not had any instances where livestock, We also work closely with the bee keepers
responsibility to maintain and clear. Trees fish, wildlife or people have been harmed in our service territory. For example; last
must grow at a distance far enough from because of the herbicide program. year we had a danger tree that needed to
conductors where they will not cause harm to be removed, which had a bee hive inside.
individuals or disruption to electrical service. ROW clearing also keeps your family Thanks to a local bee keeper, we were able to
A general guideline of maintaining a safe safe by ensuring that tree branches do not cut the tree down and transport the bees to a
ROW is 20 feet on either side of the primary become energized due to close contact with safe location.
conductors and 10 feet of overhead clearance a power line. Distribution power lines carry
above the lowest wire on the pole. thousands of volts, and an energized tree We also have a membership with the
branch is incredibly dangerous-even deadly. National Turkey Foundation that enables us
Clearing the ROW is critical to keeping your Be mindful when around trees close to power to order specific types of grass and flower
lights on. On our system this year, 24 percent lines, and make sure your children know that seed to sow in specific right-of-way locations.
of power interruptions have occurred versus climbing trees near power lines is extremely The wild flowers attract butterflies and bees
30 percent in 2014. Power interruptions dangerous. Always contact your REMC and serve as ground cover for many wild
occur when trees or bushes grow too close to if you believe trees or other vegetation are animals.
power lines. in danger of contacting the electrical lines.
Please, never trim a tree in the right-of-way Compared to the majority of co-ops in the
Southeastern Indiana REMC serves zone on your own and never allow children State of Indiana, your co-op, Southeastern
members across more than 3,200 miles of or anyone to climb a tree with a power line in Indiana REMC has one of the highest costs
line. These lines must be kept clear of trees or near it. for right-of-way clearing. Your co-op
and vegetation in order to supply you with expenses approximately $4 million a year
reliable service. Contract crews consisting ROW clearing is also critical to ensuring trying to keep members in service. The
of Asplundh, Tommy’s, Townsend Tree that we provide members with affordable service territory has a lot to do with this,
Services, and Comer mowing crews engage electricity. Staying ahead of the tree growth but members can help by not planting
in maintaining our ROW. minimizes maintenance costs incurred by trees under or near the power lines.
reacting to ROW issues after they’ve become
If a tree encroaches on this safe distance, a problem and also keeps us from having to We are committed to provide you with
our ROW crews will trim back branches and come out after a storm to restore power due reliable service. Having a right-of-way
brush using approved methods and utilizing to fallen trees. A good ROW program affords maintenance plan is an important part of our
tools such as chain saws, mowers, bucket us the ability to keep lines clear before trees commitment to you.
trucks, tree climbers, and brush chippers. become problems. Otherwise, it will just be a
matter of time before one is clearing trees in If you have any questions about right-of-
Chemical control methods may also be an outage situation. way maintenance, please contact your electric
used as a way to retard the growth of low cooperative.
growing plant species beneath power lines. Every growing season brings new
Herbicides used on your co-op’s right-of-way challenges. This year we have had healthy
are approved by the EPA and Department trees outside our ROW bring down power
of Agriculture. They are proven safe for lines. Many trees have uprooted due to
use around people, pet and animals. Every the saturated ground conditions, from the
person that applies herbicides to our right- excessive rain we have had, followed by high
of ways is trained and certified. The ROW winds.
herbicides we use target only woody plants

Page 2 - Co-op Hotline, August 2017

CO-OP HOTLINE Member
Appreciation Day
Co-op Hotline is published bimonthly
by Southeastern Indiana REMC's August 18
Communication Department for members,
employees and retirees of Southeastern 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Indiana REMC. REMC Training Center

ON THE COVER

Tom Hughan and his mother,
Elaine Miles (95) of Rising Sun
enjoy a relaxing morning of fishing
on the pond while tree trimming
crews and representatives from
the Cincinnati Zoo trim and
haul away Sassafras clippings
for the zoo animals to enjoy
year round. For more about the
REMC's partnership with the
zoo, see the story on page 6.

CO-OP HOTLINE EDITORIAL STAFF Mobile Mammogram
Program
B.J. Myers SEND COMMENTS TO
Communications Specialist November 20, 2017
e-mail: [email protected] Co-op Hotline Editor
Southeastern IN REMC 9:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Jarred Meinders P.O. Box 196 REMC Training Center
CSR/Marketing Osgood, IN 47037
e-mail: [email protected] Energy Efficiency
BACK ISSUES Tip of the Month
Barry Lauber
Director of Office Services To read back issues, log on to
e-mail: [email protected] Southeastern IN REMC's website
at https://seiremc.com/content/
newsletters.

Keith Mathews
General Manager
e-mail: [email protected]

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Setting your thermostat to a
colder setting than normal when
Statement of Nondiscrimination you turn on your air conditioner
will not cool your home any faster
This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer. If you wish to file a Civil Rights and could result in excessive
program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint cooling and unnecessary expense.
Form, found online at http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, or at any USDA
office, or call (866) 632-9992 to request the form. You may also write a letter containing all of Source: U.S. Dept. of Energy
the information requested in the form. Send your completed complaint form or letter by mail
to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Adjudication, 1400 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, by fax (202) 690-7442 or e-mail at program.
[email protected].

© Copyright 2017 Southeastern IN REMC

Co-op Hotline, August 2017 - Page 3

Clearing The Way For Safe, Following Recognized

Reliable Service Pruning Standards

Tree limbs hanging over power lines can fall on electric With our vegetation management program, we follow
distribution lines during inclement weather, causing the latest principles of tree trimming, including the
extensive outages and damages. Trees growing too lateral and natural tree pruning methods in accordance
close to power lines can sway during storms with high with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)
winds, giving electricity a path to the ground, causing A300. Lateral tree pruning maintains the health of
a potentially serious fire and safety hazard. For these the tree and is also endorsed by The National Arbor
reasons, safety and reliability are at the core of our Day Foundation and the International Society of
proactive vegetation management program. Arboriculture. While a tree may appear a bit unusual
after lateral pruning, time has shown its appearance
Right-of-Way Maintenance quickly improves over time.

We will remove trees and other woody-stemmed Lateral Pruning Methods
vegetation (regardless of height) to the edge of the
distribution line right-of-way. Trees that may have been • Branches are removed at a parent branch or at a
only trimmed in the past, as well as woody invasive lateral branch large enough to assume the terminal
species and brush, will be removed. Herbicides are role.
applied to minimize growth where necessary. We love
to promote wildlife grazing areas. • Branches growing into a utility line space are
removed and those branches growing away from a
Outer Zone Maintenance parallel to the conductors remain.

We will remove or trim dead, dying, diseased or leaning • Trees are allowed to achieve their normal mature
trees that threaten the safe, reliable operation of the height with crown development away from the
distribution lines. conductors.

High loads, hot weather or icing
conditions can cause electric lines to
sag while high winds can cause lines

to sway.

For these reasons, adequate
clearances are strictly maintained by

Southeastern Indiana REMC.

Page 4 - Co-op Hotline, August 2017

Working With Property General Policies

Owners And Members Safety of Our Property Owners

At Southeastern Indiana REMC, we value our long- Property owners should never attempt to trim or
standing relationship with property owners. So we remove tree limbs near power lines. If you are
do our best to provide adequate notification of our concerned about a tree near power lines, please call us
vegetation maintenance schedule prior to beginning at 800-737-4111 ext. 245 or
the work. Property owners affected may receive 255, or email us at [email protected].
notifications left on your door or gate, or via telephone.
Or we'll stop by to inform you personally. Proactive Approach

However, notification or personal contact is not always Trees near power lines should be pruned before they
possible as some vegetation maintenance crews (such grow to touch power lines. Our vegetation management
as mowing, spraying, pre-cycle and pruning crews) program works proactively to provide adequate
often move quickly through areas. In those cases, it clearance at all times.
may be necessary for our crews to proceed without
speaking with a member or property owner. During Advance Notifications
emergencies, such as when a tree has fallen and caused a
power outage, Southeastern Indiana REMC may not be We will attempt to notify property owners in advance
able to notify the property owner of work that must be of work to be performed. However, advance notice
performed. may not be possible during storms or other power
emergencies.
Should a dispute occur regarding our vegetation
maintenance practices, we will go to great lengths Long-Term Perspective
to work with property owners to reach a mutually
agreeable solution. We consider the long-range effects of our clearing
practices. As a result, trees may be removed to promote
We believe trees add to the beauty of our communities. long-term vegetation control and minimize the cost of
So, when you landscape around your home or property, future maintenance.
please consider the location of power lines, the need for
adequate clearance, and evaluate the species of trees you Accepted Clearing Methods
wish to plant accordingly.
Manual or mechanized labor will be employed to clear
Vegetation Management Video trees and vegetation. Only herbicides registered by the
US Environmental Protection Agency will be applied as
This video illustrates the importance of our Right-of- needed by trained and certified applicators to manage
Way program in providing safe, reliable electricity to low-growth vegetation.
our members.
Debris Cleanup

We will work with property owners to cleanup and
dispose of the collected brush. Stumps are normally
not removed, but will be cut as close to the ground
as practical and treated with an approved herbicide.
Southeastern Indiana REMC does not perform cleanup
of trees or brush that falls naturally or during severe
weather events.

https://youtu.be/-vfbK7FtokI

Co-op Hotline, August 2017 - Page 5

Representatives from the Cincinnati Zoo work alongside the Townsend tree-trimming crew to collect clippings that will help feed a variety of animals at the zoo
throughout the year.

Cincinnati Zoo Partnership

REMC's clippings help feed the animals

Most co-ops have right-of-way August representatives from the Zoo "The reason we come out this far
programs, but did you know your come out twice a week to collect and to collect the clippings", said Sam
co-op’s program also helps feed haul away the clippings. Upon return Engle, Cincinnati Zoo employee,
animals in the Cincinnati Zoo? We to the zoo, the clippings are washed "is that the animals prefer the flavor
began a partnership in 2011 where and divided. Half of the load is fed of the clippings grown in the fresh
Zoo personnel work with our right- (fresh) to the animals, and the other country environment more than those
of-way crew to collect tree clippings. half is freeze dried and stored to feed from the city, where air pollutants
During the months of June, July and the animals during the winter. have affected their flavor."

Townsend Crew: Doug Chandler, Jerry Brogan (Foreman), and Jason Cincinnati Zoo employees, Kaitlyn McEnaney and Sam Engle, were on-site to
Mathews trimmed the trees and helped load the clippings. General Foreman help load the clippings and transport them back to the zoo.
Steve Lunsford (not pictured) was also on-site.

Page 6 - Co-op Hotline, August 2017

Co-op Hotline, August 2017 - Page 7

PRST STD
U.S. POSTAGE

PAID
SEYMOUR, IN
PERMIT NO. 198

P.O. Box 196
712 South Buckeye Street
Osgood, IN 47037

Office Hours Our Mission ... Board of Directors

7:30 AM to 4:30 PM (EST) Provide safe, reliable electricity and quality services Vince Moster - District 1
Monday through Friday to the communities we serve by enhancing their Brad Bentle - District 2
quality of life through innovation and sustainable David Smith - District 3
Contact Information economic development. Carolyn Armstrong - District 4
Melissa Menchhofer - District 5
Local calls: 812-689-4111 Mike Thieman - District 6
Toll free: 800-737-4111 Darrell Smith - District 7
FAX only: 812-689-6987 Bonnie Boggs - District 8
To make a payment: 1-888-999-0762 Chris Schmaltz - District 9
Call Before You Dig: 800-382-5544
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.seiremc.com