Preparing to Serve You Better
Providing reliable power to you is and will always be a top priority for Union County Electric Cooperative. These days, power reliability seems to be making news now more than ever. As the energy industry continues to transition and more segments of the economy are becoming electrified, such as vehicles, machinery and even lawn equipment, additional pressures are being placed on our nation’s electric grid.
With summer storm season upon us, I thought it would be a good time to tell you about a few measures we’re taking to ensure you continue receiving the reliable power you depend on and deserve.
Let me be the first to say I love trees and the charm they add to our communities, and I know you do too. While trees provide shade and add beauty to our area, you may be surprised to learn that overgrown vegetation accounts for about half of all power outages.
That’s why we strive to keep the co-op’s power lines clear in right-of-way (ROW) areas. A ROW area is the land a co-op uses to construct, maintain, replace or repair underground and overhead power lines. This ROW enables Union County Electric Cooperative to provide clearance from trees and other obstructions that could hinder distribution power lines. The overall goal of our vegetation management strategy is to provide reliable power to our members while maintaining the beauty of our area.
Modernizing Vegetation Management
Generally speaking, healthy trees don’t fall on power lines, and clear lines don’t cause problems. Proactive trimming and pruning keep lines clear to improve power reliability. Advances and improvements in technology have allowed us to reduce our costs and improve efficiency by being able to identify trouble areas sooner. Our metering system alerts us to voltage issues, which can be an indication of overgrown vegetation contacting a line. Additionally, with our mapping system, our crews can geographically identify problem areas, so we can be more strategic with our tree trimming plan.
Vegetation management is an essential tool in ensuring power reliability and minimizing the risk of outages. As advancements become more accessible and costs drop, we anticipate using additional technologies to ensure a consistent energy supply while managing the natural beauty of our environment.
Lastly, by the time you receive this magazine in your mailbox, we should be in our new facility located at 32708 477th Ave, Elk Point. I encourage you to follow Union County Electric Cooperative on social media so you can learn about the latest co-op updates.
Until next month, stay safe and God bless.
Quote of the month: “Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant” – Robert Louis Stevenson - Author