Aerial Saw Tree Trimming Work Begins Along Hard-to-Access Corridors in Northern and Central Pennsylvania
Rhea-AI Summary
FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) subsidiary Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission Company (MAIT) has launched a helicopter-based tree trimming operation using an aerial saw along more than 400 miles of high-voltage power lines in Pennsylvania. The initiative, part of FirstEnergy's $51 million vegetation management program, covers 16 counties in the Penelec service area and will continue through the end of 2025.
The aerial saw, equipped with 24-inch rotary blades, can cut tree limbs 8-10 inches in diameter and is particularly effective in environmentally sensitive or hard-to-access areas. This method is significantly more efficient than traditional ground crews, completing in one day what might take a ground team a week. The project is part of a larger initiative to trim trees along 4,100 miles of power lines in the Penelec area, serving approximately 597,000 customers across 17,600 square miles.
Positive
- Improves system reliability by preventing tree-related power outages
- Increases efficiency in maintenance operations, covering more area per day than traditional methods
- Enhances safety by eliminating risks associated with traditional tree trimming near high-voltage lines
- Part of a substantial $51 million vegetation management investment
Negative
- None.
News Market Reaction – FE
In the trading session that priced this news, FE gained 1.24%, reflecting a mild positive market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
Saw will trim along high-voltage transmission lines in 16 counties through end of year
The aerial saw will trim along transmission lines located in
Maintaining proper clearances around transmission lines and electrical equipment can help prevent or minimize the impact of tree-related power outages, especially those associated with severe weather during the summer and winter storm seasons. Clearing incompatible vegetation under power lines also gives company personnel easier access to inspect and maintain lines and make repairs quicker if an outage occurs.
John Hawkins, FirstEnergy
Suspended on a boom beneath the helicopter and equipped with multiple 24-inch rotary blades, the aerial saw is typically used along transmission lines in areas that are environmentally sensitive or inaccessible to bucket trucks and other vehicles. This method of trimming typically covers more area in a day than a ground crew might complete in a week. The saw also eliminates the risk of injury to workers using bucket trucks or climbing trees to cut limbs near high-voltage equipment.
The saw cleanly cuts tree limbs 8 to 10 inches in diameter, which fall straight to the ground propelled by air blasts from the helicopter rotors. Ground crews move limbs that have fallen onto roads, yards, fields or in streams. The ground crew will also flag and stop motorists along roads if the aerial saw is working nearby.
The helicopter flies above and alongside transmission lines and may circle around to perform additional trimming. The pilot communicates with local airport personnel whenever the helicopter is operating within their air space. The helicopter and saw are owned and operated by Aerial Solutions and will work only as weather conditions permit.
View or download video footage of the aerial saw in action on FirstEnergy's YouTube Channel.
The work is part of FirstEnergy's
Penelec serves approximately 597,000 customers within 17,600 square miles of northern and central
FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in
Editor's Note: Photos of the aerial saw are available for download on Flickr.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aerial-saw-tree-trimming-work-begins-along-hard-to-access-corridors-in-northern-and-central-pennsylvania-302468345.html
SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.