My Rant --was-- Re: [BC] Electrical Code

[Cowboy]

On Friday 28 October 2005 06:16 pm, Jerry Mathis wrote:
>And the other thing is NOT clearing trees within falling distance of the 
>power lines. Meridian MS is a good example of this. Practically ALL the 
>power lines that came down during Katrina were brought down by trees/limbs 
>falling on them. If the power company would cut the trees that, if they 
>fell, could take down the power lines, they wouldn't have this problem.

 Personally, if they wanted to cut down the 200 year old oak in my
 front lawn, *I'd* have a problem with that !
 It pre-dates the power lines by a few weeks, at least.

 I'd have no problem with the idea that if it fell for other reasons,
 it could not be replanted, nor would I have a problem with the
 idea that if it fell, I'd pay the costs of restoring power, but cutting
 it down just because it might, someday....

>I've only seen ONE utility company that actually does this. Tennessee Valley 
>Electric Cooperative, which covers Hardin and Wayne counties in Tennessee, 
>cuts trees and brush not just under the power lines, but 30' or so either 
>side.

 Ohio Edison used to trim trees in proximity to power lines as a maintenance
 thing, but stopped a few years ago as a "cost cutting" measure to make
 the stock holders happy.
 ( they did do a really good job at it. Didn't run 'em into an eyesore
 in the process )
 Now, of course, we all know that this company, apparently owned
 by happy stock holders,is where that 6 state international blackout
 a few years ago started.

 I can't prove it, but I'd bet REAL heavy that it was a tree that had needed
 trimmed that was the real cause !

 We don't need to force 'em all underground, nor do we need to
 devastate all existing trees.
 A bit of common sense maintenance, though, would go a long way.
 I can't even begin to tell you the increase in the number of outages
 since Ohio Edison did away with maintenance in favor of stock price.

-- 
Cowboy

http://cowboys.homeip.net

Weinberg's Second Law:
	If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs,
then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization.