WILLIAMSPORT, Md., May 14, 2024 -- Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE), is currently conducting tree trimming and other vegetation management work across its Maryland service area. This is part of the company's ongoing efforts to enhance electric service reliability. The $14.7 million tree-trimming program for this year aims to maintain power supply to customers by preventing tree-related outages that often occur during the spring and summer storm season.
Since the beginning of the year, contractors have trimmed trees along more than 300 miles of power lines across Maryland. The company plans to complete an additional 1,800 miles of tree-trimming work by year-end. Similar work is performed annually by FirstEnergy transmission companies along high-voltage power lines in their service territories.
FirstEnergy has made a video explaining and demonstrating tree-trimming work available on its YouTube channel.
Don McGettigan, Acting President of FirstEnergy's Maryland Operations stated, "Because trees are a leading cause of power outages, tree trimming is crucial to our reliability efforts and one of the most effective ways we can reduce the impact of tree-related service interruptions for our customers."
Crews continuously inspect vegetation near power lines to ensure trees are pruned while preserving their health and maintaining safe clearances. Trees that present a danger or are diseased may be removed.
Potomac Edison works with municipalities as part of its notification process to inform them about tree-trimming schedules. Customers living in areas along company rights of way are also notified before any vegetation management work commences.
Potomac Edison serves approximately 285,000 customers in seven counties in Maryland. More information about Potomac Edison can be found at potomacedison.com, on X (@PotomacEdison), and on Facebook at facebook.com/PotomacEdison.
FirstEnergy is committed to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence. Its electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving over six million customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate around 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. More about FirstEnergy can be found at www.firstenergycorp.com and on X @FirstEnergyCorp.
Editor's Note: Photos of workers trimming trees near FirstEnergy power lines are available for download on Flickr.
News Media Contact: Will Boye, (301) 790-6420 or Investor Contact: Irene Prezelj, (330) 384-3859