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Electric
Service
Providing
Reliable Service
Maintaining
Our Right-of-Way
Providing
reliable electric service is a top priority at Snapping Shoals EMC.
That´s why we are serious about managing and maintaining our
right-of-way. Since problems caused by trees account for nearly
half of the outage time experienced by consumers, it stands to reason
that outages can be reduced by keeping tree limbs away from power
lines. In addition, shrubbery and other obstacles need to be kept
away from underground padmounted equipment. Remember, a clean right-of-way
gives workers easier access to lines and equipment when problems
do occur.
Snapping
Shoals employees and contract crews work hard to maintain a 30-foot
right-of-way around power lines (15 feet on each side) through the
routine clearing or spraying of brush and the trimming or removal
of trees. With over 4,500 miles of line and right-of-way to maintain,
the work must be done in such a way that it will last awhile.
Project
Habitat
Snapping
Shoals EMC understands the importance of maintaining our right-of-way
in an environmentally sound way. That´s why we are a part
of Project Habitat, a wildlife enhancement program for electric
utilities and forestry companies. Through Project Habitat, we maintain
right-of-way vegetation selectively, using herbicides that control
undesirable vegetation while allowing desirable, low-growing plants
to return. We are also planting wildflower plots and wildlife food
plots at selected right-of-way locations.
Don't
Plant Trees Near Power Lines
You
can help maintain the reliability of your electric power by not
planting trees near power lines. Remember, those tiny seedlings
and saplings will one day be tall trees with far-reaching limbs.
Plant wisely so that you can enjoy your trees for many years to
come.
Requests
For Trimming Trees
You
may have a tree at your home or business that you would like us
to trim or remove because it is near our electric line. If so, you
should submit a signed written request to have the tree (or trees)
trimmed or cut down.
When
making the request, be sure to include your account name and number,
the address where the tree is located, and your phone number. For
each tree in your request, please be specific about whether it should
be completely cut down or trimmed. The trees should be marked with
ribbon or paint to identify them, and the means of identification
should be noted in your request. The request should be sent to the
Customer Service Department at Snapping Shoals EMC, P.O. Box 509,
Covington, GA 30015.
After
the request is made, a representative of Snapping Shoals will inspect
the trees to determine if they pose a possible outage or safety
hazard. If the representative determines that the requested removal
or trimming is warranted, the work will be scheduled. Snapping Shoals
will not be responsible for cleaning up the debris from the trimming
or cutting.
Call
Before You Dig
Please
keep in mind that state law requires you to call the Utilities Protection
Center of Georgia, 1-800-282-7411 or 770-623-4344,
before you do any type of digging or work near underground or overhead
power lines. Utility lines will be marked so that you can dig safely
and legally without fear of shocking discoveries or hefty fines.
Don't
risk digging without calling first. The results could be both dangerous
and costly.
Blinking
Lights
Occasionally
your lights blink as if the power is about to go out, but then everything
is okay. Have you ever wondered what caused the blinking?
Blinking
lights are usually a result of momentary outages that occur when
some type of disturbance exists on the line. This disturbance could
be caused by any of several things, such as a lightning strike,
an automobile hitting a pole, or a squirrel or tree branch coming
into contact with an energized power line.
When
lights blink, it may be a minor annoyance, but it is an indication
that your electric utility's equipment is operating properly. Blinking
lights reflect the operation of equipment that protects the lines
and keeps the power from going off for more than just a moment.
The
co-op's distribution system includes special devices called reclosers,
which operate whenever there is a short circuit on the line. If
the short circuit is temporary, which is usually the case, the reclosers
permit power to continue flowing through the line with only a brief
interruption of service (meaning your lights blink). Without this
device, every short circuit, temporary or otherwise, would cause
the power to be off until we could send a line crew to restore service.
Usually these reclosers will operate or trip three times before
stopping the flow of electricity and causing a power outage. This
operation of the recloser protects the line from damage.
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