GVEA has over 2500 miles of power lines to maintain. This is done seasonally, March-October, but power outages happen all year long. When the temperature drops below 0° and it's dark outside 19 hours a day, time is of the essence to restore power.

A clear right-of-way helps them do just that. Clearing our power lines provides safer, more reliable service for our members. A clear right-of-way enables our line crews to access the area, quickly identify causes of outages and shorten response time to make necessary repairs.

Trees falling into power lines are one of the leading causes of power outages. As clearing progresses through our power grid, hazardous trees are identified and removed. Maintaining cleared rights-of-way has helped shorten the length of outages considerably.

Safety is another reason to clear. Trees growing into power lines become energized and are hazardous to people, pets and equipment. Also, electricity going to ground costs us all money, similar to leaving your water running while no body is using it.

Our clearing takes two forms woven together; mechanical clearing and hand clearing. Mechanical clearing is done by a Kershaw 10-10 and a Kershaw Klipper. They are machines similar in appearance to a front end loader.

The Kershaw 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 Klipper may come through side limbing branches that are growing into the lines. The Klipper has a boom with three rotating saw blades that reaches up above the power lines.

Our two hand crews clear where the Kershaw 10-10 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 Klipper can not get and remove danger trees system wide.