West Columbus: Ongoing Forestry Work to Keep Your Power on & Protect the Grid

Trees are one of the top causes of power outages. As part of our ongoing efforts to provide reliable electric service and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, our forestry crews continue to trim and remove trees away from the high-voltage transmission and distribution electric lines in Hilliard, Upper Arlington and surrounding areas. We know you may have questions — below is more information about what you can expect and why the work must be completed.

Federal & State Regulatory Requirements

This proactive forestry work is critical in helping to prevent power outages and providing our crews with safe access for routine maintenance and equipment repairs. A single tree branch on a distribution power line can disrupt power for thousands of customers, while tree contact on a higher-voltage transmission line can cause widespread, extended outages across multiple states and regions.

North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC)

NERC requires utilities, like AEP Ohio, to maintain a minimum distance between transmission lines and nearby vegetation. Our foresters must adhere to NERC requirements to ensure a reliable grid in Ohio and beyond.

Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO)

We have an obligation to provide you and your neighbors with safe, reliable power. The PUCO mandates that we trim and remove trees on our distribution electric circuits every four years.

Whether it's trimming or removing trees around transmission or distribution power lines, we work to balance the need for reliable service with respect for the natural environment.

What's the difference between transmission and distribution lines?

Once power is generated, it moves through high-voltage transmission power lines — you'll often recognize their tall steel towers and poles in your community. This high-voltage electricity travels long distances until it arrives at a substation in your area. From here, it travels shorter distances through distribution power lines and equipment to power your home or business.

What is NERC and how does it help protect the grid?

Tree contact with transmission lines is a leading cause of electric power outages and a common cause of past regional blackouts, including the August 2003 blackout that affected 50 million people in the Northeast United States and Canada. Following the 2003 blackout and subsequent federal legislation, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission designated the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) as the Electric Reliability Organization (ERO), with the responsibility to develop and enforce standards to ensure the reliability of the Bulk Power System, including the Reliability Standard that addresses vegetation management on rights-of-way, FAC-003-4. Non-compliance can lead to significant penalties for utilities.

Sources: NERC and FERC

Planned Forestry Work