Power Loss — Whose Fault?

Power loss?  Let me be the first to blame President Obama.  That’s right, it is Obama’s fault!  His quest for “green” energy has caused energy companies to divert resources from maintenance of critical power lines.

Okay, if you don’t like that, how’s this? Bush’s fault. Yup, the Bush administration was asleep at the wheel while Enron and several other companies were scamming energy. Of course, though, that brings up the real culprit, Reagan. Wasn’t he the one who deregulated the power companies in the first place? Nope. I think they all are off the hook. O’Malley? Perhaps. BGE and PEPCO? Definitely. But one that no one would expect is YOU, Joe Homeowner.

I have never lived anywhere like Maryland, where the power lines are completely and totally ignored—at least until a crisis happens. In the Midwest and Northwest, the grid may not be as old, but there are certainly as many, if not more, trees.  Why is it that in Maryland the growth along power lines is unabated? My guess is that it is nothing more than demand from homeowners.  No one likes an old tree lopped off, but power companies cannot afford to surgically remove dangerous branches from around its lines. This is particularly true if they have to give in to the demands of homeowners to keep the trees looking good. Surgical removal would probably cost even more than burying the lines, the solution that you often hear bandied about.

I can hardly drive two blocks ANYWHERE in Maryland without seeing heavy vegetation on or around power lines. We need to get with the program, people.  Don’t object to BGE crews lopping off your tree (or even demanding that you control your own trees). Yes, it is nice to have mature trees on our properties.  We must recognize, though, that the utility easements are there for a reason. That reason is to ensure that the utilities can be maintained and serviced. I propose that the number one maintenance problem with Maryland power lines is interference from trees.

Do you leave a tree standing that threatens your home? Most do not. Then why don’t we protect our power lines in the same way? If you have a tree on your property that touches, comes close to, or otherwise threatens a power line, call a trimmer to remove the threatening branches. If you can’t afford it, call BGE and let them “trim” your tree.  If we don’t all get on board with this now, we will pay later.