We are conducting tree trimming and other vegetation management work in portions of our Mon Power and Potomac Edison service areas as part of our efforts to help enhance electric service reliability in West Virginia. This year’s $84.7 million tree-trimming program will help keep power flowing to customers by helping to prevent tree-related outages, such as those that can occur during the spring and summer storm season.

“Since trees are the leading cause of power outages, tree trimming is crucial to our reliability efforts and one of the most effective ways we can reduce the impact of tree-related service interruptions for our customers,” said Jim Myers, President, West Virginia Operations.

On the ground, contractors have trimmed trees along nearly 1,100 miles of power lines across our West Virginia service area since the beginning of the year. We are on track to complete an additional 6,800 miles of work by the end of the year. Similar work is performed annually by FirstEnergy transmission companies along high-voltage power lines in our service territory.

Crews continually inspect vegetation near power lines to ensure trees are pruned to preserve their health while also maintaining safe clearances. Trees that present a danger or are diseased may be removed.