La Plata Electric Association continues tree trimming and removal

Crews target “hazard” trees posing potential impact to electrical equipment  

DURANGO, Colo. – To continue to help ensure safety and reliability of electricity transmission, La Plata Electric Association (LPEA) is performing regularly scheduled, routine inspections and maintenance on overhead lines in La Plata County during the coming months. The effort includes the safe trimming and removal of trees that pose a hazard to electrical system lines.

LPEA’s tree trimming crews will be working in the Bayfield/Vallecito area, including the town of Bayfield proper, north to the end of CR 505, west along CR 502, east to roughly Yellow Jacket, and south four miles toward Ignacio. Crews will also be attending to issues in western La Plata County on all roads that have overhead lines in the Hwy 160 west area, including CR 206, 207 and 141.

According to LPEA officials, removal of hazardous trees or branches is necessary for public safety, to decrease the potential for power outages and to avoid the possibility of fires caused by limbs or trees falling onto or through power lines.

 “We’ve had very few outages this winter, and to a great extent we attribute this to our routine inspection, maintenance, system improvements and tree trimming program,” said Steve Gregg, LPEA operations manager. “Remember that many winter outages are due to snow loading up on hazardous limbs, which break and fall through a line. We take great pride in being proactive with our system maintenance for our members’ benefit.”

A “hazard” tree is any tree that is dead, damaged, infested with insects, showing evidence that the root system is jeopardized or unstable, and/or one that may be leaning toward power lines and is tall enough to come into contact with LPEA electrical equipment if it were to fall. Trees growing within LPEA’s power line right-of-way may also present a hazard to electrical equipment as they mature.

Felled trees will be limbed and left for property owners’ use or disposal. Trails and roadways will be cleared of debris by LPEA. Landlords with rentals in the maintenance areas are encouraged to alert their tenants of possible activity on the right-of-way or adjacent property.

LPEA customers with additional questions or concerns are urged to call Roland Pack, 382.7183 or Ben Cordova, 382.3534.

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