Media Contact: Scott L. Andresen (626) 302-2255, scott.andresen@sce.com
ROSEMEAD, Calif., May 18, 2011 — To ensure continued reliable electric service and comply with state regulations, Southern California Edison (SCE) will be removing palm trees near high-voltage lines in Redlands. The work is being done in anticipation of high winds and low humidity during the Santa Ana fire season.
Starting the week of May 15 and lasting through the summer, SCE contract crews will be removing palms that threaten public safety and electrical system reliability. Palm trees hitting power lines can endanger residents and pedestrians. Fronds can break loose and land on high-voltage lines, possibly catching fire and/or damaging electrical conductors.
The California Public Utilities Commission and the California Department of Fire and Forestry Protection mandate and enforce specific clearances between vegetation and electrical conductors. Many palms along Redlands streets have grown dangerously close to SCE’s high-voltage lines.
SCE has 260-plus crews trimming more than 1.6 million trees growing near power lines throughout the utility’s 50,000-square-mile service territory. Forty percent of those trees, such as ash, palm and eucalyptus, are fast-growing.
Tree trimming and vegetation management are part of SCE's customer services. Their costs are carefully reviewed by regulators before they are included in customer rates.
About Southern California Edison
An Edison International (NYSE:EIX) company, Southern California Edison is one of the nation’s largest electric utilities, serving a population of nearly 14 million via 4.9 million customer accounts in a 50,000-square-mile service area within Central, Coastal and Southern California.
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Southern California Edison Removes Palms in Redlands for Safety Reasons
