TREE TRIMMING
Evidence for the need to control growth of vegetation along power line right-of-way is easy to see in many rural areas. Overgrown right-of-way can cause problems during severe weather and can make it difficult to reach trouble spots to make repairs.
In a continuing effort to control brush growth, Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative has hired contractors to cut and trim trees in the Christianburg & Ottumwa substation areas. The Contractors will be performing maintenance trimming and mowing, removing re-growth vegetation, and clearing areas that may have been missed in previous years. The work will be done as an attempt to improve system reliability, provide a safer work environment, establish a more accessible right-of-way to the Cooperative’s facilities, and to maintain clearance of brush and tree limbs from the power lines. Generally, the contractors will be trimming up to 20 to 25 feet on each side of the pole centerline and removing any additional “danger” trees that may be a potential threat to the power lines. Yard trees will be reviewed separately and a determination will be made on the best course of action for those trees. The contractors will also be mowing and brush cutting underneath the power lines. In most cases, you should expect to see less vegetation cut and removed than in prior years, depending on the re-growth activity in your area. You should also expect delays on clean up work depending upon the weather conditions. For additional information give us a call at 800-607-2027.
The Contractors working in your area will make an attempt to contact all landowners, either personally, or with the use of a “door hanger” in advance of cutting in your area. If no response is given after a good faith effort to contact you, the Contractors will proceed with their trimming activities as required. Please respond if you are contacted by a Contractor or your Cooperative as soon as possible. Contractors are scheduled to begin working in the very near future and throughout the 2022 calendar year. Any questions or concerns with Contractors in your area should be directed to the Cooperative.
SPRAYING
Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative initiated an aggressive vegetation management program in 2008. Since its commencement, member/owners have experienced a significant reduction in the amount of power interruptions and outages caused by trees and brush. The effort required to perform necessary maintenance and repairs has also been significantly reduced while providing a safer environment for those of you working near our power lines. This includes SIEC employees who are available to serve you 24/7.
In 2022, our efforts to control brush will focus on the Mark and Davis Substation areas, which will impact the SIEC right-of-way associated with your property if you are in these areas. The method of control being utilized will be an environmentally safe herbicide applied to right-of-way locations by Tom’s Tree Service from Albia, Iowa. They have successfully provided tree and brush management solutions to Southern Iowa Electric for a number of years in fulfillment of an awarded contract.
Starting in May, workers will begin spraying the herbicide which is absorbed by the foliage, is non-volatile, and is a non-phenoxy, non-benzoic growth regulator. The application is designed to work on buds that will form next year’s leaves.
If you have questions or concerns in regards to the methods utilized in Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative’s brush management program, please contact our office at 1-800-607-2027.
Click here to download Tree Planting Brochure
PROJECTS
Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative along with one of our contract engineering firms, Power Systems Engineering, identified several segments of our distribution system that need rebuilding and strengthening over the next few years. If you are served by the Ottumwa or Christianburg Substations you are currently being served by one of the power lines scheduled for re-construction. In most cases, the Cooperative will be installing new poles with shorter span lengths and replacing the existing small copper conductors with larger aluminum conductors. Any significant changes in the power line alignment or location of the power line will result in you being notified directly by a staff member of the Cooperative.
The first phase of these projects will include surveyors/engineers in your area and in some cases on your property placing stakes (wooden lathe) for new pole and anchor placements and also gathering data for design of the new power line. These individuals will be employees of both the Cooperative and Stanley Consultants, a contract engineering firm hired by SIEC. These Contractors will be issued an identification tag from the Cooperative and their vehicles will be equipped with a magnetic decal that reads “Contractor For Southern Iowa Electric Cooperative”. These individuals are anticipated to begin working sometime on or after September 12, 2022. There are several projects to do so you may not see anyone for several weeks or months, depending on when they arrive in your area.
The second phase of the projects will include the construction. Contractors will be hired through a bidding process. Dates for construction have not been established but are anticipated to begin in the Spring or early Summer of 2023.
We will try to keep updates posted here on our website. However, if you have any questions, comments or concerns regarding the activities as described above, please let us know as soon as possible so that we may properly address them and mitigate any delays in design or construction.
We appreciate your Cooperation on these matters as we strive to continue delivering safe, reliable electric power.