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Puget Sound Energy reliability project

West Kitsap enhanced tree pruning pilot

Spring 2013 project updates

• Tree work began in early April 2012 and was completed in late October 2012. Routine maintenance was also completed in the area in December 2012 (this work was outside of the enhanced pruning pilot).
• We plan to monitor and review all tree-related power outages in the area during the winters of 2012-13 and 2013-14 to analyze the project’s success. After we complete our analysis, we will share the results with you. In the meantime, check back here for updates.
• We want your feedback! Please take our brief online survey. Your comments will be taken into consideration as we plan future vegetation management projects.

Project overview

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Project Map

Trees are the number one cause of electric outages in Kitsap County. In an effort to decrease these outages, PSE is piloting a new tree trimming project in the Chico, Seabeck, Crosby and Holly areas of Kitsap County.

Customers in the area are served by a 54-mile-long power line that runs through dense forested areas. The power line is one of the least reliable in PSE’s service territory, with the majority of power outages caused by trees and branches coming in contact with the line. As a result, our customers experience frequent and lengthy tree-related outages. Because of this, PSE identified this area for a pilot program aimed at reducing outages through a new tree pruning technique.

The pilot program is based on the results of an independent study of PSE’s vegetation management system and will be monitored by certified arborists. The enhanced pruning technique expands the buffer between trees and power lines by removing all overhanging branches above the lines, sometimes called “lines to sky” pruning (see graphic of “normal” versus “enhanced” tree pruning). The focus of the pruning will be on certain tree species that have a tendency for branch failure, which include Douglas Firs, Big Leaf Maples, Black Cottonwoods and Red Alders. The pilot program will complement our planned regular maintenance pruning and hazard tree removal in the area.

Tree crews in bucket trucks and safety personnel will be working along side the neighborhood roadways this summer in the following areas:

• Seabeck Highway Northwest from approximately Northlake Way Northwest to Northwest Holly Road,
• Northwest Holly Road to Seabeck Holly Road Northwest,
• Seabeck Holly Road Northwest to Tekiu Road Northwest,
• Peter Hagen Road Northwest, Lewis Road Northwest, Lake Tahuyeh Road Northwest and Northwest Wildcat Lake Road

It is our hope that through this pilot program we will see a reduction in tree-related power outages in the area.

Videos on Tree Trimming

Play these videos explaining the importance of tree pruning to minimize tree-related power outages for our customers, and describing the difference between PSE's normal and enhanced tree pruning practices.

Want to know more?

If you have any questions about PSE's vegetation management process or policies please call 1-888-225-5773 or visit our vegetation management section on PSE.com.

Committed to keeping you informed

PSE will continue to provide updates. Residents and businesses near the project area will be notified before the tree work will occur. Our goal is to complete the work with as little disruption as possible.

Contact us

• Email at info@psekitsaptree.com
• Contact PSE Municipal Liaison Manager and Certified Arborist Tom Brobst at 360-475-7020
• Send us a letter via U.S. mail at:
  Attn: West Kitsap Tree Pilot
  Kitsap Service Office
  6522 Kitsap Way
  Bremerton, WA 98312-1744
  

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