PECO Planning to Prune Vegetation in Narberth, Bala Cynwyd and Beyond

In an alleged effort to lower the number of electrical outages to its customers, PECO Energy Company has invested $2.2 million for vegetation management and preventative pruning in Narberth, Lower Merion and Philadelphia, said spokeswoman Liz Williamson. Pruning is scheduled to begin in the Chestnut Hill and Roxborough sections over the next several weeks. 

The $2.2 million is a small portion of PECO's overall budget for vegetation management, which is $33 million for its entire coverage area. 

"The reason that this vegetation management is so important is because vegetation causes one third of all electric outages," Williamson said.

Vegetation management, according to PECO, includes the pruning of trees and vines that interfere with power lines. Additionally, trees and vines that pose a significant threat to power lines may be taken down.

"If there are trees that are hazardous in any way, or in danger of falling down, then those types of trees will be removed," Williamson said. 

Even though crews are confronted with occasional tree removal, PECO insists that the preventative pruning will not affect the overall health of the tree.

"Crews are trained in proper pruning technique and meet standards of arboriculture," Williamson said. "We do have guidelines to ensure the continued health of the tree and we want to make sure the tree remains healthy."

Maggie Effinger, a member of the Roxborough-Manayunk Tree Tenders, generally frowns on the preventative pruning of trees in the surrounding area but understands the necessity. 

"The tree will survive," she said. "But the reality is that you shouldn't take more than 20 percent off of the tree per year."

Effinger is understandably skeptical of PECO's initiative. After preventative pruning to her own tree, it began to die.

"PECO came in and started to trim these trees and they started to die," she said, referring to the trees on her block. "My tree was going too close to telephone wires, so they trimmed it. Within two years it was dead."

While PECO assures the public that preventative pruning will keep the trees healthy and stable, some are concerned about how the trees look after pruning.

"This is the double-edged sword," said Cliff Van Yahres, the township arborist for Lower Merion Township. "When you're clearing for a purpose, aesthetics go on the wayside. You're creating something that's not natural."

Lower Merion Township is often the site of PECO's cyclical pruning process, which occurs every four to five years, Van Yahres says, adding that "it's a necessary evil." The township takes steps to ensure that pruning is kept to a minimum. The standard right of way in Lower Merion Township ranges from eight to 15 feet from the curb, and if residents wish to plant trees in that area, they must receive permission from the township.

Pruning is, in fact, on a five-year schedule, according to PECO, though a mid-cycle trimming can be done based on need. If trees need to be removed, PECO will not compensate residents, though they must receive written consent from the owner before removal begins.

"We will work with the customers and help to advise them about what trees or shrubbery would be appropriate and not affect the overhead lines," Williamson said. PECO has contracted the tree pruning and removal services to Asplundh Tree Expert Co., headquartered in Willow Grove. 

"The reason we do the preventative pruning is to ensure continued reliability for the customers," Williamson said.   Others however, aren't concerned with reliability.

"I think it looks awful," Effinger said. "That's my professional opinion."