Quality Tree Care & Trimming

In order to protect electric infrastructure, prevent outages and protect the public, Vectren must trim and maintain the foliage in and around power lines. Vectren has permission to trim trees in the communities it serves through franchise and easement agreements. However, we always make it a point to give proper notification to property owners about our tree trimming activities before the process begins.

To do this trimming properly, Vectren uses pruning practices that are recommended by the National Arbor Day Foundation, which are described in "Pruning Trees Near Electric Utility Lines: A Field Pocket Guide For Qualified Line-Clearance Tree Workers" by Dr. Alex L. Shigo. These practices avoid topping, tipping, removing branch collars and leaving long stubs. Proper tree care ultimately increases reliability of service by maintaining healthy trees with less decay and structural weakness, resulting in fewer downed power lines during storms. Pruning methods are monitored for safety, environmental impact and costs.

When trimming trees, Vectren follows these tips and encourages property owners to do so as well.

Vectren employs tree trimming and pruning practices in compliance with the National Arbor Day Foundation.

• Cut as close as possible to the branch collar: A ring, or "doughnut", of living tissue will form around a correct cut after one growing season.
• Do not leave stubs: they are entry courts for rot-causing fungi.
• Make cuts at nodes, which are the place where a branch meets another branch or the trunk. Making cuts between nodes leads to excessive sprouting, cracks and rot.

To report a tree problem, click here.

Tree Line USA Utility

Since 2009, Vectren has annually received the Tree Line USA Utility designation by the National Arbor Day Foundation for its commitment to public education about the importance of trees and quality tree care. Vectren was recognized for its tree-friendly efforts, including:

• training tree trimming crews about proper tree pruning practices;
• educating the public about appropriate tree species for planting near utility lines;
• educating customers about energy efficient landscapes to reduce home cooling and heating;
• sharing proper tree-pruning practices with customers; and
• sponsoring community tree planting programs and/or participating in Arbor Day events.

For more information visit, www.vectren.com/arborday.