Before digging around underground power facilities

Customers serviced by underground power lines should be aware of landscaping clearance and other guidelines before working around our equipment.

Maintaining proper landscaping clearances around padmount transformers allows our crews to safely perform necessary inspection and maintenance work. Woody plants, ornamental grasses, shrubs and trees must be kept at least 8 feet from the front of the pad (the side with the enclosure doors) and at least 3 feet from the sides and back. Plantings located too close create a dangerous work area and may hamper efforts to restore power in an emergency. In addition, the plants may be damaged by workers trying to access underground facilities.

Before adding or removing trees, shrubs or other plantings (including stumps), obtain free safe digging information to avoid disturbing buried utility lines. The following work site information will be needed:

• County, city or township
• Street address
• Intersecting streets or roads
• Distance and direction from intersection
• Extent of work (front/rear/both sides)
• Date excavation will take place
• Type of work
• Your name
• Contact phone number
• Contractor contact person or other additional information

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