DTEK Dnipro Grids has cleared 960 km of routes under the power lines

Thermal power generation07 July 2022

DTEK Dnipro Grids has resumed cutting shrubs and tree branches along the overhead power lines that it had to suspend since the beginning of hostilities in the region, thus reducing the risk of line breaks in the event of strong wind gusts. Simultaneously with these works, electricians will be fixing defects, detected on equipment, in order to prevent power outages for customers. The company has already cleared and troubleshot more than 961 km of overhead line routes in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The scope of work is to be doubled by the beginning of the heating season.

Most line breaks and outages during bad weather are caused by trees and branches falling on 0.4-10 kV low voltage lines. Such overhead lines are mostly concentrated in the detached houses sector. Every year company’s specialists conduct large-scale work related to cutting of branches, in order to prevent power outages and maintain electricity in customers’ homes.

«Since the beginning of war, works related to clearing of routes were postponed. We have gradually resumed them in April. Since the beginning of the year we have cleared more than 960 km: 111 km of high and middle voltage lines and 850 km of low voltage lines that suffer from fallen trees the most. We plan to increase this number almost twice and clear about 1,700 km of routes by the beginning of the heating season. Such measures will increase reliability of power supply to the residents of the Dnipropetrovsk region and reduce emergency condition of the overhead lines”, — notes DTEK Dnipro Grids.

The company also notes that DTEK Dnipro Grids employees are not the only ones who should be involved in clearing routes from tree branches and overgrowth. According to the regulations, land owners and land users are responsible for preservation and proper care of green spaces. That is, residents of detached houses should prune trees and bushes in their own yards and backyards. Company’s specialists, in turn, perform scheduled pruning of trees that grow in the security zone of overhead power lines.

In order to ensure safety of employees, pruning trees along the lines, the company will temporarily de-energize the grid as per schedules, approved by local communities and civil-military administration.

Information about power cutoff is available via convenient services:

Viber and Telegram chatbot (follow the link or enter “DTEK Dnipro Grids” in the search bar);
Facebook page;
contact center +38 (056/066/067/063) 790-99-00, 0-800-301-497, a designated line for legal entities +38 (067) 522 21 12;

For reference: according to the “Grids protection rules” it is prohibited to plant trees under the power lines. In order to avoid emergencies, the company asks residents of the detached houses not to plant tall trees and to timely perform pruning near the lines. Land owners and users should clear green spaces if the distance from tree branches to the 0.4 kV line becomes less than 1 meter or if branches hang over the wires. If severe weather can make emergency trees fall and damage the grids — they should be pruned. To do that, the owner of a land plot should submit a de-energization request to DTEK Dnipro Grids, agree on a time and only then prune the trees within the distance of at least one meter from the power line.