The following is from PG&E:
Dear PG&E Customer,
Our most important responsibility is the safety of our customers and the communities we serve. As part of this responsibility, we work every day to keep trees and other vegetation at a safe distance from powerlines, poles and towers to prevent wildfires and ensure reliable power. Our efforts are making the system safer while allowing us to better respond to climate challenges. As part of our ongoing safety efforts, every year we:
- Inspect approximately 100,000 miles of overhead powerlines
- Cut down dead, diseased, defective or dying trees with the potential to strike the powerlines
- Maintain a minimum clearance of 1.5 feet around powerlines with a minimum clearance of 4 feet in high fire-threat areas
- In some cases, prune trees to 12 feet minimum around powerlines in order to maintain clearance year-round
- Perform additional inspections and tree work in areas with high fire risk
When performing our vegetation safety work, as required by law, we do our best to preserve trees. However, if a tree threatens public safety and the electric system’s reliability, it must be addressed. Through these efforts, we are not only meeting, but exceeding state standards to keep our communities safe. Your efforts can also keep your home and community safe. Keeping your home clear of dead or dry vegetation, with adequate defensible space, can help protect your family and home. Defensible space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or any wildland area that surrounds it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and it helps protect your home from catching fire—either from embers, direct flame contact or radiant heat. Proper defensible space also provides firefighters a safe area to work in, to defend your home. You can reduce future pruning and promote safety by planting the right tree in the right place. To help care for your landscaping trees, you may hire the services of an arborist.
Sincerely,
PG&E Customer Care Team
Who,
What,
When,
How
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From pge website,
“This work is performed by our highly-trained team that includes
professionals who hold credentials from the International Society of
Arboriculture (ISA). ISA is a non-profit organization that promotes the
professional practice of arboriculture throughout the world. Through
their industry-recognized credential process, our workforce includes
Certified Arborists, Certified Tree Climbers, Tree Risk Assessment
Qualified (TRAQ) Inspectors and more.”
https://tinyurl.com/y3jbt3mv
.
Important part,
This work is performed by our highly-trained team.
They take care of it all, NO problem, trim on . . . .
Highly trained?! I’ve seen some of the hack jobs by their contractors 🙁
PG&E has been in bed with Davey Tree for Decades! Davey used to (and still may be) throw a week long “Party for all the Big Shots (Mostly from the Electric Department at an exclusive hideaway in Amador County near one of their dams.
A little late in the season to being doing this isn’t it? Also if they were sponsoring the “tic-tac-toe” planes to create cooler, wetter weather it may not be working. 🙄
Davey tree came 30 years ago and said they would return after I moved a vehicle under 1 of the 4 trees they needed to trim. I moved the truck permanently and they never returned. I tried contacting them and there is no way to get in touch. They showed up 5 years ago and buried a gas crypt style distribution under my drive and never repaired my drive. P.G. and E. needs to move to another state. They are insulated from all responsibilities of their subs.
If PG&E can do this, what is stopping the State and Feds?