Tree trimming and removals are conducted on the NOVEC system on a three-year cycle. Tree crews from Asplundh Tree Experts patrol every mile of overhead line and trim or remove trees as necessary according to NOVEC contract specifications.

Brush trees which have grown up within the right-of-way easement will be removed if they are less then 6” in diameter. No trees are allowed to be planted within the right of way. Even though our rights of way currently have older trees directly under the lines which must be continually trimmed, it is not acceptable to plant new trees like these. NOVEC is continually talking with customers to encourage them to allow the removal of these unhealthy, poorly situated trees. Newly planted trees within the easement area will be removed by NOVEC contractors when found. Please think first and plant appropriate species. Contractors will remove brush, however, any wood over 4 inches in diameter will not be removed from trees which are cut down. This wood will be cut to lengths of 4-5 feet and left on the site.

Generally, trees along main power lines will be trimmed so they are at least 10 feet from any NOVEC conductor. Trees along low voltage service drops and street light wires will be trimmed back so branches have from 1 to 5 feet of clearance. Trees along main transmission lines may be trimmed back 50 feet or more from all conductors. Any dead, diseased, or decayed trees which have the potential to fall onto a high voltage line may be removed upon inspection by the right-of-way staff.

All tree trimming done by NOVEC contractors is considered natural directional pruning. That is, branches which must be trimmed are removed flush with a larger limb if possible to promote a healthier tree. Only branches which are growing towards or over lines are trimmed to encourage remaining branches to grow away from lines. Some trees located directly under lines, however, must be topped or removed entirely to maintain safe electrical clearance.

Trees located directly below overhead NOVEC lines may be removed at any time. As a minimum such trees are trimmed to at least 6 feet below NOVEC’s lowest conductor. This is above any telephone and cable television wires which are always the lowest mounted wires on a pole. 

 Trees located along the sides of overhead NOVEC lines are trimmed back to either the edge of the easement or at least 10 feet from the conductors from the ground up to at least 10 feet above the highest wires.

Rights of way located in wooded or unmaintained areas may be mowed to allow access for NOVEC equipment and to dispose of trimming debris.

Click the following link to view an audio/visual slide presentation of a typical tree trimming scenario. You will need Microsoft PowerPoint to view this presentation.

 

 

Tree Trimming Slide Show | PowerPoint Presentation(15.8MB)

You may often see a Bush Hog mowing in NOVEC rights of way.

A neatly mowed right of way is ideal.

Aerial Line Inspection Program

NOVEC utilizes aircraft to inspect the overhead line in critical transmission areas. These aircraft flies along all of our transmission line rights of way once every three months looking for falling or dead trees, line problems or other out of the ordinary conditions requiring immediate attention.

Customer Notification

Since March 1, 2007, customers have been notified of routine tree trimming activities by a notice printed on their monthly billing statement. Please pay attention to your bill as this is the only notification given for this routine tree trimming. If you have questions about the type of work to be done specifically on your property, please call the number printed with the notice. General notifications through NOVEC’s What’s Current articles and this Web site are used for NOVEC's pole inspection program, transformer painting and inspection program, and herbicide applications since these programs cover large portions of the system very quickly. Please understand that contractors are required by contract and safety requirements to maintain NOVEC rights of way in specific ways. Please don’t attempt to have the contractors deviate from these requirements in any way.

In certain cases, you may receive a hand delivered notice if we have found a hazardous situation related to a tree on your property. Click here for a sample of this notification.

For additional resources on tree trimming and planting, visit The National Arbor Day Foundation.

To request evaluation of a tree for potential trimming or removal, please click here. For more information, contact NOVEC at 703-335-0500 or 1-888-335-0500.