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Watch a video about rights of way |
Don't worry. Your power should not be affected when our right of way crews clear the area around nearby power lines. During the summer of 2010, you will see our crews in the following areas:
Doing some landscaping? Make sure you plant the right tree in the right place.
Guidelines for City Landscaping Ordinance - pdf
Fencing Guidelines - pdf
GVEA maintains over 3,000 miles of power line. This is done seasonally, March through October, but power outages happen year-round. We clear for these three basic reasons:
Most right of way easements are 30-feet wide. We normally cut all brush to the ground.

Danger trees are:
GVEA right of way maintenance employees will evaluate trees for potential danger tree status. If it is determined that the tree is a danger to our power line, it may be removed.
To report a tree you suspect may be a danger tree, e-mail us at info@gvea.com or phone our operations office at 451-5692.
Golden Valley Electric attempts to notify residents well in advance. Even if we will not be working on your property, we may have to access our work through your right of way. Members are notified by mail. In addition, our crew may talk to you in person or leave a door hanger. This gives you the opportunity to contact us before we begin work. For more information e-mail our Right of Way Maintenance Department at info@gvea.com or call 458-5717.
You will see us clearing with machines as well as hand clearing. Mechanical clearing is done by a Kershaw brush mower, BobCat mower and a Kershaw Sky Trim. They are machines similar in appearance to a front end loader.
The Kershaw brush mower cuts and mulches the brush as it mows a ten-foot wide path each pass down the right of way. Care should be taken to stay well away from the Kershaw as it can throw pieces of wood or other debris that could cause injury.
After the right of way has been cleared, the Sky Trim may come through side limbing branches that are growing into the lines. The Sky Trim has a 75-foot boom with a rotating saw blade that reaches above the power lines.
Our hand crews clear where the Kershaw mower can't go due to restrictive terrain, lawns, or close proximity to buildings. They cut and stack brush along the side of the right of way, trim tree branches that the Kershaw Sky Trim can not get and remove danger trees system wide.
Service drops are the lines that connect your house or business to GVEA's high voltage lines. There is usually a transformer on the pole to lower down the voltage to usable household voltage (110-220 volts) from the distribution voltage (usually 7200 volts).
It is the homeowner's responsibility to maintain this service drop. It should be kept clear of trees and brush.
Golden Valley Electric may evaluate danger trees threatening a service drop but we are not obligated to cut them. If you have trees you wish to remove that do not classify as danger trees, GVEA recommends hiring a contractor.
We can also disconnect your service for you in some instances to make felling of the trees easier and reconnect it when you are done. There is not a charge for this service during business hours but please try to provide at least 5 days notice.
It is the members' responsibility to contact the tree removal contractor. If you would like to report a suspected danger tree or schedule a temporary disconnect e-mail our operations department at info@gvea.com or call 451-5692.
General Information on trees, planting and care:
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/forestry/community/
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/forestry/pdfs/utilities-right_tree.pdf
Be energy efficient -- learn where to plant your trees: http://forestry.alaska.gov/images/treetools/alaska_landscaping_house.jpg.
Links to defend your home against forest fires
http://forestry.alaska.gov/pdfs/06Firewise.pdf
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/forestry/pdfs/fireresistveg.pdf
http://www.dnr.state.ak.us/forestry/fire/links.htm
Golden Valley Electric Association is a proud Treeline USA member
Photos Copyright Alaskaphotographics.com, unless otherwise specified.
