Saying ‘no’ to dangerous tree branches: 1.2 thousand km of power lines have been cleared since the beginning of the year

Thermal power generation24 April 2020

DTEK Dnipro Grids personnel have continued trimming tree branches and clear power lines from potentially dangerous branches and dead wood. They have not stop doing their job even when the quarantine was introduced to ensure reliable electricity supply and bring comfort to the company’s customers. 1,186 kilometres of power lines have been already cleared since the beginning of the year. These efforts help reduce a risk of breakdown of wires, especially during strong wind, avoid emergency outages, and prevent fires in ecosystems.

Saying ‘no’ to dangerous tree branches: 1.2 thousand km of power lines have been cleared since the beginning of the year

Falling trees and branches coming into contact with electric wires — it is one of the main reasons for emergency power outages. To prevent breakdowns and fires around power lines, DTEK Dnipro Grids employees perform scheduled trimming of trees and bushes. Clearing the path of power lines help prevent trees and branches from coming dangerously close to wires and ensure reliable electricity supply for customers. These measures also help protect people from electrical hazards during extreme weather conditions.

Special focus is given to the territory of forest districts and municipal parks and forest zones. Shulhivske forest district in Kamianka District is one of such sites. The height of the trees here is not controlled. Only the side tree branches growing dangerously close to the power lines and thus becoming a potential source of danger are trimmed.

Power lines running through local towns and villages are also being cleared. For instance, 2.7 km of the power lines in Vodiane village and almost a kilometre of the power line in Shyroke were cleared from dangerously hanging tree branches. Risks of line breaks have also been prevented for the residents of Kubynska, Yanky Kupaly, Maloarkhanhelska, Pertrykivska, Luhova, and Apostolovska streets in Kryvyi Rih. Almost 3 km of power lines were cleared from potentially dangerous branches in this area.

Almost 12 kilometres of overhead power lines have been cleared in the region since the beginning of the year. The major portion of them, which is 735 km, is 0.4 kV low-voltage lines. 6–10 kV power lines account for another 341 km. The remaining power lines are high-voltage 35 kV and 110–150 kV power lines secure power supply to whole villages and districts.

According to Power Line Security Rules, no trees can by planted under power lines. To prevent emergency situations, the power companies ask local residents trim their trees that were planted in close proximity to power lines. If tree branches grow too close to wires, an owner has to file an application for disconnection with a local power line maintenance office, and trim trees within on-meter radius around the power line only after a time slot has been agreed.

During the quarantine, the company’s emergency response teams, call-centre operators, website and social media administrators have been working 24/7 to ensure reliable and uninterrupted electricity supply for our customers. In the past month, DTEK Dnipro Grids responded to 2 thousand emergency situations and restored electricity supply to the houses of 136 thousand customers in Dnipropetrovsk Region.