The fall season in our part of North Carolina means cooler evenings, changing leaves and, unfortunately, storm season. Hurricane season runs June 1 through Nov. 30, and winter ice is not far behind. Trees and vegetation are one of the leading causes of power outages, which is why right-of-way work matters most this time of year.
What is the right-of-way?
The right-of-way is the area around our power lines that the cooperative maintains to keep service reliable and give crews room to make repairs. It extends 50 feet on each side of transmission lines and 15 feet on each side of distribution lines. As part of receiving electric service, members grant their co-op easement rights to clear and maintain these areas.
We trim every line in our system on a four-year cycle. If we have your email address on file, you will receive a notice before work begins in your area, and tree crews will knock on your door or leave a door hanger before pruning starts. The work often involves two or three crews over several days, so if you see limbs on the ground for a bit, a cleanup crew is on the way soon.
Help us spot danger trees
You know your property better than anyone, which makes you our best early warning system. A dead, leaning or uprooted tree outside the right-of-way can still fall into a line and knock out power for an entire neighborhood. October is a good time to look. As leaves drop, dead trees become easier to spot.
If you see a dead tree tall enough to hit a power line, call us at 800.222.3107 or email info@pemc.coop with the tree’s condition, its location and your contact information. Photos also help. Our staff will inspect the tree, and if it threatens the electric system, we will remove it at no cost to you. Hauling away the debris is the member’s responsibility. Remember, never trim trees near power lines yourself. Leave that work to trained crews.
When the lights do go out
Even with proactive tree work, storms can cause outages. Crews restore power starting with the largest parts of the grid and work down: high-voltage transmission lines first, then substations, main distribution lines, tap lines and finally individual homes. This order brings power back to the greatest number of members as quickly and safely as possible. So if your neighbor’s lights come on before yours, it is not luck. It is the system working as designed, and just know crews are on their way.
With our innovative meters, we often know the power is out before you do, but reporting still helps crews isolate the problem. Report outages through SmartHub or by texting or calling 800.222.3107. For faster reporting, make sure we have your current contact information on file. You can update it on SmartHub or by calling us at 800.222.3107.
If you ever see a downed power line, stay far away, warn others and call 911 and Piedmont Electric at 800.222.3107. Downed lines can still be energized.
Learn more at pemc.coop/right-of-way.