By Marshall Griffin, KWMU
Jefferson City, MO – The Missouri Public Service Commission gave final approval today to new tree-trimming rules for investor-owned utility companies.
They require that trees near power lines be trimmed every four years in urban areas and every six years in rural areas, with inspections halfway through those periods. Public Service Commission Chairman Jeff Davis urges customers to be patient as power companies adjust to the new rules.
"There are always going to be outages, but we're certainly trying to do everything we can to minimize those outages," Davis said.
The new rules also require that customers be notified before any tree-trimming takes place on private property, and customer permission is required before problem trees outside the right-of-way can be removed.
Each investor-owned utility has to submit a vegetation management plan to the Public Service Commission.
Mike Cleary, Communications Executive with Ameren UE, says they can live with the new rules.
"They offer greater transparency due to their reporting requirements, they also set manageable inspection schedules for poles, lines and other facilities, and we believe the rules will cost-effectively improve reliability to electric customers," Cleary said.
The new rules were initially approved last fall, but implementation was held up due to a delay in processing the paperwork.