PUGET
SOUND ENERGY - WHIDBEY ISLAND RELIABILITY VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
PROJECT
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the Project FAQ Sheet click the button
Historically,
fallen trees and tree limbs are the main cause of power outages
on Whidbey Island. This was particularly evident during last winter's
fierce rains and winds that caused trees and branches to fall
into transmission lines and knock out power to the entire island.
Accordingly,
PSE is accelerating its efforts on Whidbey Island and improving
our system's reliability by pro-actively working to reduce tree-related
outages in our transmission corridor. Based on a comprehensive
review of outage history and an independent review of our storm
response and procedures, PSE has identified specific existing
transmission line corridors where the removal of trees with a
mature height of 25 feet or more can materially improve service
reliability.
The
reliability initiative on Whidbey Island is a unique, multi-year
effort to improve electric reliability through enhanced vegetation
management; it will take several years to clear around the transmission
line corridor. For 2007, PSE has identified approximately 10 miles
along the transmission corridor to be cleared of trees that mature
to a height of 25 feet or more.
