Northfork Electric Cooperative, Inc.
Operating in
Beckham, Roger Mills, Washita, Greer, Custer, Harmon, and Dewey
SCOTT COPELAND GENERAL MANAGER
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Jimmy Taylor-Pres ....................Elk City Charles Hickey-V. Pres
..............Reydon Ransom Snowden-Sec-Treas ........ Erick Chris Mackey
................................Sayre Larry Smith
............................Cheyenne Lloyd Joe Patton
..........................Sayre Brent Meador .............................Elk City Brendon
Atkinson......................Attorney
SAYRE OFFICE
Kenny Waugh
.................Mgr. of Marketing /LVD 'DLOH\
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................Mgr. of Acct. & Finance Kay Brown
..........................Adm. Assistant Richard Bowdre ................Operations Mgr.
REYDON OFFICE Barbara Swope ................655-4557
FOR OUTAGES AFTER 5 P.M. CALL 1-800-NO-VOLTS (1-800-668-6587) or
(580) 928-3366
OFFICE HOURS 8 AM TO 5 PM MONDAY-FRIDAY
ADDRESS P.O. Box 400
SAYRE, OK 73662 18920 E. 1170 Rd.
Don’t Let Trees Cause Problems with Power
by Heath Martin NFEC Safety Director
7UHHV FDQ SURYLGH \RXU KRPH ZLWK EHDXW\ VKDGH WR ERRVW \RXU HQHUJ\ HffiFLHQF\ DQG a natural way to reduce your carbon footprint. However, if those trees are planted in the wrong location in your yard, they can also be expensive to maintain and even dangerous. The Energy Education Council’s Safe Electricity program shares tips on how you can help keep trees healthy and your family safe.
“When selecting a tree to plant, remember trees and power lines do not mix,” That is why it is important to keep in mind how tall and how wide the tree will eventually grow. Tree limbs can fall during bad weather and damage electrical wires that provide you and your neighbors with power, resulting in power outages or “blinking light” interrup- tions. Tall growing trees with a mature height of greater than 40 feet should be planted at least 50 feet away from lines to avoid future pruning. Some of these trees include: oak, white and blue spruce, most pines, and most maples. A mature height of less than 15 feet is recommended if planting near lines. Some trees that are generally not tall enough to interfere with lines are: crabapple, honeysuckle, MXQLSHU ÀRZHULQJ GRJZRRG DQG KDZWKRUQ .HHS LQ PLQG WUHHV VKRXOG QHYHU EH SODQWHG directly under power lines, near poles, or too close to electrical equipment. Once you have a tree selected, make sure to call 811 before ever putting a shovel in
the ground. The “Call Before You Dig” number is a free service that locates and marks your public underground utilities. Make sure to call a few days in advance of when you want to dig in order to provide enough time for a professional to locate such underground utilities as electrical, gas, water, cable, and telephone.
For the established trees you already have in your yard, a safe clearance should be maintained between them and the power lines that you see near your home. If you have trees that are growing into power lines, contact your electric provider to determine whether the utility or you will be responsible for the work. If you are responsible, it does not mean you should do the work yourself. Only skilled professionals trained to safely prune and trim trees for electric line clearance should be hired to do the work. ³:KLOH WUHHV DQG VKUXEV SODQWHG QHDU SRZHU OLQHV FDQ VXffHU HLWKHU LQ DSSHDUDQFH RU
vitality, safety is the overriding issue.” Trees conduct electricity and can create a safety hazard if limbs grow too close to electric lines.
Be sure no one climbs a tree near power lines. If branches are touching the wires, the tree could be energized. Even branches 1333-002 not touching power lines could become energized if a child’s weight is added.
In order to help maintain safety and electrical service reliability, your utility may either prune trees that are too close to power lines or will contact a tree trimming service to do so. Although simply trimming a tree is usually enough, some trees that are at risk of damaging power lines during severe weather—like dead or dying trees or those with a shallow root system—may need to be removed completely.
This institution is an equal oppor- tunity provider and employer.
Help keep your trees looking their best, your power on, and your family as well as lo- cal utility workers safe by planting the right tree in the right place. For more information RQ WKH VDIH DQG HffiFLHQW XVH RI HOHFWULFLW\ YLVLW 6DIH(OHFWULFLW\ RUJ RU IHHO IUHH WR FRQWDFW NFEC Safety Director, Heath Martin, at 580-928-3366.
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