Trimming future problems

SPRING BRINGS LONGER DAYS, warmer weather, blooming trees and more opportunities to get outside. Sometimes while out on a drive to enjoy the weather, I’ll spot some of our contracted crews working by the road, trimming tree branches growing too close to power lines.

I enjoy the beauty the trees add to our communities, especially at this time of year. But, I also enjoy the comfort of knowing power will be available when I need it.

At Lynches River, we’re committed to providing you with reliable power. There are some things we can’t prevent— high winds, ice storms, hurricanes— but we do what we can to prevent other causes of outages. As you can probably guess, weather-related events cause the majority of power outages— a whopping 19% according to a survey by our national service organization, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. But vegetation — trees, shrubs, brush—growing too close to power lines and distribution equipment leads to 15% of power interruptions.

To “cut back” on potential tree-related problems, LREC continuously runs an aggressive tree trimming program. Our contracted crews from Southeastern Limb and Tree look for trees growing under lines, overhanging branches, leaning or other types of “danger” trees that could pull down a power line if they fall, as well as trees that could grow into lines.

Help us keep safe, reliable and affordable power flowing to your home or business by letting us know if you notice trees or branches that look unsafe near our power lines. Even more important, before planting trees in your yard, think about how tall they may grow and how wide their branches may spread. You can report trees that look dangerous or you think may cause a problem by calling (843) 672-6111 or (800) 922-3486.

Thank you for your help as we work together to keep providing safe and reliable electricity.