Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 6, March 18, 2024
(a) Each EDC shall ensure that vegetation management conducted on its energized conductors is performed in accordance with the standards and accepted procedures set forth in the following publications, which are incorporated herein by reference, as amended and supplemented:
1. Part 1 of the document entitled Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance-Standard Practices (Pruning). This document, also known as ANSI A300, is published by the American National Standards Institute, and may be obtained at
www.ansi.org;
2. Part 7 of the document entitled for Tree Care Operations-Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance -Standard Practices (Integrated Vegetation Management A. Utility Rights-Of-Way). This document, also known as ANSI A300, is published by the American National Standards Institute, and may be obtained at
www.ansi.org;
3. Part 9 of the document entitled for Tree Care Operations - Tree, Shrub, and Other Woody Plant Maintenance -Standard Practices (Tree Risk Assessment). This document, also known as ANSI A300, is published by the American National Standards Institute, and may be obtained at
www.ansi.org;
4. Best Management Practices, Utility Pruning of Trees, 2004. This title is published by the International Society of Arboriculture and may be obtained at
http://www.isa-arbor.com/store/product/65/ ;
5. Pruning, Trimming, Repairing, Maintaining, and Removing Trees, and Cutting Brush--Safety Requirements, 2012. This document, also known as ANSI Z133.1, is published by the American National Standards Institute, and may be obtained at
www.ansi.org;
6. Native Trees, Shrubs And Vines For Urban And Rural America: A Planting Design Manual for Environmental Designers, by Hightshoe, G.L., 1987, is published by John Wiley and Sons and may be obtained from various resellers;
7. Manual of woody landscape plants 5th Ed., by Michael A. Dirr. Stipes Publishing, LLC; 5th edition (August, 1998), and may be obtained from various resellers;
8. Hortus Third: A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada, by L.H. Bailey Hortorium, 1976, and may be obtained from various resellers; and
9. National Electric Safety Code C2-2012. ISBN: 9780738165882 is published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., and may be purchased at
www.ieee.org.
(b) Where multiple standards or methods listed at (a) above would apply or conflict, the VM or his or her designee shall select the most appropriate standard or method under the circumstances.
(c) Each EDC shall develop its own vegetation management standards and guidelines, which shall be consistent with this subchapter. In developing these standards and guidelines, an EDC shall prioritize work based upon:
1. The extent of the potential for vegetation to interfere with the energized conductor;
2. The voltage of the affected energized conductor;
3. The relative importance of the affected energized conductor in maintaining safety and reliability; and
4. The presence and condition of any hazard trees.
(d) Each EDC shall provide a copy of its vegetation management standards and guidelines to the Board as a chapter in the Annual System Performance Report. If an EDC makes a change in its vegetation management standards and guidelines, the utility shall provide Board staff with a copy of the change no later than 30 days prior to implementing the change.
(e) Each EDC's vegetation management standards and guidelines shall cover, at a minimum, all of the following activities:
1. Tree pruning and removal;
2. The procedures for handling the removal of hazard trees;
3. Vegetation control around poles, substations, and other energized conductors;
4. Manual, mechanical, or chemical control of vegetation along rights of way;
5. Inspection of vegetation management both before and after the work is performed;
6. Research and development of improved vegetation management activities and practices; and
7. Public education.
(f) Among the factors the EDC shall consider in determining the extent of vegetation management to be performed at a particular site are:
1. The rate at which each species of vegetation is likely to grow back;
2. The voltage of the energized conductor, with higher voltages requiring larger clearances;
3. The potential movement of the energized conductor during various weather conditions;
4. The potential movement of trees or other vegetation during various weather conditions; and
5. The utility's legal rights to access the area.
(g) The EDC shall remove all trimmings and cut vegetation resulting from vegetation management activities that are part of the utility's regular maintenance cycle, within five business days after the vegetation was cut, except if the EDC obtains consent to leave the trimmings or cut vegetation, from the owner of the property upon which the trimmings or cut vegetation are located.
