Eversource Eyeing Drought-Stressed Trees in NH

MANCHESTER, NH — If you see workers trimming trees in Eversource communities before winter, here's why: Eversource tree crews are working to identify trees that have been weakened by the severe dry weather and pose a threat to the reliability of the electric system, according to a press statement. The company is undergoing "rigorous tree trimming programs," which include removing hazardous trees along critical lines that serve high numbers of customers, play an important role in identifying and removing drought-stressed trees along overhead electric power lines.

"The effects of a drought on tree systems are cumulative, and the region has experienced drought conditions for two of the last three years," said Bob Allen, manager of Vegetation Management for Eversource in New Hampshire. "This year is expected to be the warmest on record, and the high temperatures coupled with lack of rainfall are affecting the trees. In order to prevent tree-related outages, our crews are working to identify signs trees are experiencing drought stress, such as early fall color and shedding of leaves and branches."

In New Hampshire alone, Eversource will invest $30 million this year trimming more than 2,800 miles along overhead power lines and removing hazardous trees.

"Our crews have been trained to look for the general health of the tree and to be aware that the drought has exacerbated any issue the tree is already suffering from," Allen said. "It appears more trees are failing. We have seen incidents where trees or branches fell onto power lines when the weather was nice. That's because the root systems that anchor the trees have been compromised by the extended drought."

So far, the company has completed more than 1,730 miles of tree work. The company services 11,000 miles of overhead power lines in New Hampshire, where trees account for more than 60 percent of all power outages.

As a trusted community partner and neighbor, the company's licensed arborists work closely with the communities where work is done, notifying customers in advance of any tree work on their property and performing a visual inspection to identify hazardous trees that may not be within the company's trim zone, but that could pose a threat to the system.

Submitted by Kaitlyn Woods