FirstEnergy's 2016 Tree Trimming Program Underway in Met-Ed Service Area
Work Includes 2,600 Miles of Lines and Will Help Enhance Reliability
READING, Pa., April 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) continues to conduct tree trimming work in communities across the Metropolitan Edison Company (Met-Ed) service area in Pennsylvania as part of its ongoing efforts to help enhance service reliability.
Since the beginning of the year, contractors have trimmed trees along more than 330 miles of distribution and transmission lines in the Met-Ed area as part of the more than $14.7 million vegetation management program for 2016, with an additional 2,270 miles expected to be completed by year end.
"Tree trimming is one of the most important things we do every year to help maintain our electric system," said Ed Shuttleworth, regional president, Met-Ed. "The work we have done over the past several years has made a positive difference in reducing the number of tree-related outages. Our goal is to reduce outages and enhance service reliability even more by protecting our wires and other infrastructure from tree-related damage."
The vegetation management work is conducted by qualified contractors, including Aerial Solutions, Asplundh Tree Expert Company, Davey Tree Expert Company, Lewis Tree Service; Nelson Tree Service Inc., Rotor Blade, Treesmiths and York Tree Service Inc.
During the upcoming months, Met-Ed will be conducting tree trimming work in the following locations: Easton, Gettysburg, Hamburg, Hanover, Lebanon, Reading, Stroudsburg, York and surrounding areas, and Upper Bucks County.
The work includes inspecting vegetation near the lines to ensure trees are pruned in a manner that helps preserve the health of the tree, while also maintaining safety near electric facilities. Trees that present a danger or are diseased also may be removed.
Met-Ed serves approximately 560,000 customers in 15 Pennsylvania counties. Follow Met-Ed on Twitter @Met Ed and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MetEdElectric.
FirstEnergy is a diversified energy company dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.
SOURCE FirstEnergy Corp.
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