Tideland spends nearly $2 million annually for rights-of-way maintenance. The lion’s share of those dollars are for tree trimming and tree removal. If we divided that expense equally among all 24,118 member accounts, that would come to $82.92 per metered service annually.

Tree trimming is vital to system reliabilty because trees are the leading cause of power outages on our system. That shouldn’t be surprising given our coastal location and frequent weather events that can negatively impact tree health. A warming climate has also accelerated tree growth. As a result, Tideland went from a seven-year trim cycle to a five-year cycle in 2003. That’s right: it takes five years for our contract crews to trim the entire system. Then the cycle begins again.

The most pressing areas of concern are yard trees and unmanaged forests. That’s where you can help us tremendously.

Tideland territory is home to the top two-ranked North Carolina counties for income derived by timber harvested and delivered to mills: Beaufort and Craven. In Beaufort County, 65% of the land area is timberland. In Craven County the figure is 58%. However, it is rare that trees within a managed forest cause power outages. Why? Because they are well maintained and harvested long before they might pose a hazard. In fact, when timberland related outages do occur they are most often attributable to the harvesting operation itself when heavy equipment is operating in the vicinity of overhead wires.

Therefore, the most pressing areas of concern are yard trees and unmanaged forests. That’s where you can help us tremendously.

When planting new trees, make sure they’re a safe distance from overhead power lines. Medium-height trees (40 feet or smaller) should be planted at least 25 feet from power lines. Taller trees (over 40 feet) should be planted at least 50 feet from power lines. You can also practice safe planting near pad-mounted transformers. Plant shrubs at least 10 feet from the transformer door and 4 feet from the sides. If your neighborhood has underground lines, remember to contact 811 before you begin any project that requires digging. Additionally, if you spot an overgrown tree or branch that’s dangerously close to overhead lines, please let us know.

We have deep roots in our community, and we love our beautiful surroundings. It takes a balanced approach, and our vegetation management program is a crucial tool in ensuring service reliability.