Update 5:30 a.m.:
Connecticut Light & Power has issued an update of the tree-trimming work its contractors are performing in Greenwich, a program designed to reduce power outages caused by fallen trees and limbs during storms.
The $600,000 project involves tree work to be done by Lewis Tree Service primarily south of Route 1, as well as in the Lake Ave area of town between Round Hill Road and the Merritt Parkway and the Valley Road, Cat Rock Road, Cognewaugh Road neighborhoods, according to CL&P. The work began a few weeks ago and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Affected streets can be found by visiting www.clpbringspower.com and clicking the “Vegetation Management” link, CL&P said in a prepared statement.
"Trees are the number one cause of power outages and regularly scheduled trimming, as well as enhanced trimming in certain areas, is needed to reduce service interruptions. Trimming is also necessary to provide sufficient working space so line workers can maintain a safe distance from the power lines when repairing them. In areas where tree-related outages have been numerous, crews will perform enhanced trimming above and around those power lines," according to the statement.
Residents who have questions can contact Brian Fuegen of Lewis Tree Service, Inc. at (860) 818-3818 or CL&P's Senior Vegetation Management Program Coordinator Doug Pistawka at (860) 665-6146.
Original story, March 15:
Trees crews are in Greenwich as part of a Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) plan to increase reliability and reduce future power outages.
CL&P recently launched the expanded tree work program that includes significantly more routine and enhanced tree trimming across the state.
This year, CL&P plans to spend $53.5 million on tree trimming – an increase of approximately $27 million over 2011. The expanded tree work is being performed along 4,900 miles of the company’s utility poles and wires, an increase of 1,600 miles.
This week, Lewis Tree Co. crews fanned out across Greenwich and spent several days along the Route 1 corridor in the western end of town.
“Expanded tree work is a critical part of our plan to reduce the vulnerability of our distribution system to outages,” said Bill Quinlan, CL&P’s vice president of Emergency Preparedness, in a prepared statement.
In the in August 2011 and , thousands of Greenwich residents remained without power for days and school classes were cancelled because of fallen trees and downed power lines and transformers.
Quinlan said the criteria for identifying areas where increased tree work is needed to improve system resiliency includes electrical circuits with poor performance during the last three years; major segments of circuits with a large number of customers, and sections of circuits where enhanced tree trimming has not been performed in the past.
The work includes 8-foot side clearance, 10-foot clearance below wires and 15-foot clearance over wires; and on certain main lines, limbs above the wires may be removed. Property owners are notified by mail and are asked to respond within 15 days before routine work begins.
If customers have questions about the tree work program, they may call CL&P’s customer service center at 800-286-2000.
