Providing reliable power to you is and will always be top priority for South River EMC. Power reliability seems to be making news more than ever.

As the energy industry continues to transition and more segments of the economy are becoming electrified, such as vehicles, machinery and even lawn equipment, additional pressures are being placed on our nation’s electric grid.

With summer storm season upon us, we thought it would be a good time to tell you about a few measures we’ve taken to ensure you continue receiving the reliable power you depend on.

Let us be the first to say we love trees and the charm they add to our communities, and we know you do too. While trees provide shade and add beauty to our area, you might be surprised to learn that overgrown vegetation accounts for about half of all power outages.

That’s why we strive to keep the co-op’s power lines clear in right-of-way (ROW) areas. A ROW is the land a co-op uses to construct, maintain, replace or repair underground and overhead power lines.

While ensuring our lines stay clear of any impediments, we take very seriously our goal of being good environmental stewards, so we have a strategically planned Integrated Vegetation Program.

The ROW enables South River EMC to provide clearance from trees and other obstructions that could hinder distribution power lines, like ours. The overall goal of our vegetation management strategy is to provide reliable power to you while maintaining the beauty of our area.

Modernizing Vegetation Management

Generally speaking, healthy trees don’t fall on power lines, and clear lines don’t cause problems. Proactive trimming and pruning keep lines clear to improve power reliability.

However, traditional vegetation management is costly and time consuming. It entails on-the-ground, labor-intensive efforts involving dozens of workers assessing vegetation and overseeing the quality and completion of contractor work. Although this approach has worked for decades, advances and improvements in technology have allowed us to reduce our costs and improve efficiency.

Drones are able to capture images of power lines and vegetation so we can accurately monitor the health of trees and pinpoint problems along the lines. Drone data is incorporated into our routine maintenance and inspections.

While ensuring our lines stay clear of any impediments, we take very seriously our goal of being good environmental stewards, so we have a strategically planned Integrated Vegetation Program.

This approach, which is evaluated for safety and environmental impact, includes mechanical equipment as well as the spraying of chemical herbicides that have been tested and approved by the EPA. Spraying of ROW is done in accordance with prescribed regulations.

We have also implemented AI technology to stay ahead of right-of-way trimming, so that we can work more efficiently for the membership.

Planned Outages Improve Reliability

Although it may seem counterintuitive, we also maintain power reliability through planned, controlled outages.

By carefully cutting power to one part of our local area for a few hours, South River EMC can perform system repairs and upgrades, which ultimately improve electric service. Planned outages can also be used to balance energy demand, but only in rare circumstances.

Rest assured, we will always try to notify you in advance of a planned outage, so make sure we have your contact information on file to receive the latest communication.

Vegetation management is an essential tool in ensuring power reliability and minimizing the risk of outages. As advancements become more accessible and costs drop, we anticipate using additional technologies to ensure a consistent energy supply while managing the environment.

Lastly, we encourage you to follow South River EMC on social media (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram) so you can learn about the latest co-op updates.