Press Release

PUC Releases Summer Readiness Reports from Electric Utilities; Encourages Homeowners, Businesses & Local Governments to Maintain Trees

Published on 6/20/2018

Filed under: Electric

HARRISBURG – The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) today released the 2018 Summer Readiness Overview reports from the state’s electric distribution companies and the regional transmission organization, PJM Interconnection. The reports provide the companies’ preparations and plans for various conditions – such as severe storms and high temperatures – that may affect electric supply, price and service reliability during the summer months.

“These Summer Readiness Reports provide helpful insights about how the industry is preparing for seasonal issues – like severe storms and peak demands for electricity – and the steps they are taking to help ensure reliable service to Pennsylvania residents,” said Chairman Gladys M. Brown.

The reports focus on the following: reliability enhancement programs; preventive maintenance programs; capacity planning; 2017/18 storm updates and lessons learned; 2018 summer readiness; and storm response.

“While these reports detail utility preparations, it is also important to note that property owners play a key role in helping to prevent or minimize power outages – especially those caused by falling trees,” said Chairman Brown. “From ensuring that trees outside the utility right-of-way are healthy and well-maintained to planting the ‘right trees in the right places,’ homeowners and businesses can help reduce the number of storm outages and accelerate repairs.” 

Trees that are leaning toward power lines or roadways have a greater risk of falling during a severe weather event than healthy, well-maintained trees.  Road closures caused by trees falling onto highways can also become significant obstacles and safety hazards that delay electric service restoration during storm events. Local government officials are encouraged to assess and address their region’s tree growth along roadways to help reduce delays in power restoration activities.  

According to the most recent data compiled by the PUC, tree-related outages are the number one cause of service disruptions to Pennsylvania customers, and can have a substantial impact during the summer.

During 2017, outages caused by trees accounted for about one-third (33.4 percent) of all sustained power interruptions across the state and were responsible for 57.5 percent of time customers were left without service. Overall, tree-related outages impacted more than 5.4 million customers across the Commonwealth last year, totaling nearly 900 million minutes of service interruptions.

The Commission requires all electric distribution companies (EDCs) to have a condition-based plan for vegetation management for their distribution system facilities, as part of their mandated biennial inspection and maintenance plans. The minimum vegetation inspection and treatment cycle is between four to eight years, depending on conditions and system performance.  Even with these programs and the millions of dollars spent on vegetation management, tree-related outages have a significant impact – including issues involving trees that are outside utility rights-of-way. 

The Summer Readiness Reports submitted by Pennsylvania utilities are available via the following links:

PPL Electric Utilities

PECO Energy Company

West Penn Power Company

Pennsylvania Power Company (Penn Power)

Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed)

Pennsylvania Electric Company (Penelec)

Duquesne Light Company

Citizens' Electric Company

Wellsboro Electric Company

UGI Utilities Inc. (UGI Electric Division)

Pike County Light & Power

PJM Interconnection

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission balances the needs of consumers and utilities; ensures safe and reliable utility service at reasonable rates; protects the public interest; educates consumers to make independent and informed utility choices; furthers economic development; and fosters new technologies and competitive markets in an environmentally sound manner.

For recent news releases and video of select Commission proceedings or more information about the PUC, visit our website at www.puc.pa.gov. Follow the PUC on Twitter – @PA_PUC for all things utility.  “Like” Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission on Facebook for easy access to information on utility issues.

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Contact:

• Nils Hagen-Frederiksen
  Press Secretary
  717-418-2701
  nhagen-fre@pa.gov