Trees growing in and near power lines have been a leading cause of service interruptions. To address this problem, Westar has substantially improved its vegetation management and line clearance program, devoting resources to this effort.
Line clearance crews prune and remove trees, as necessary, to obtain adequate clearance for overhead electric lines. Line voltage and tree species determine the amount of space required between trees and electric lines when trimmed.
Directional pruning methods are most commonly used by professional crews, whereby only those branches that may eventually conflict with overhead lines are removed. This is the accepted industry pruning standard approved by the Tree Care Industry Association.
Learn more about Westar Energy's tree pruning practices. |