Utility Vegetation Management Bill on Hold
A proposed bill to improve how utility companies take care of vegetation around utility poles is tabled.
Photos
A proposed bill to regulate utility companies' management of vegetation around utility poles and wires is dead, at least for now.
"We pulled that matter off [the Montgomery County Council's agenda] because the county attorney had advised us that our legal authority with respect to tree trimming was circumscribed, and so we would need to retest the legislation," said Montgomery County Council President Roger Berliner (D-Bethesda), who had proposed the bill along with Councilman Marc B. Elrich (D-at large) of Takoma Park.
But, the proposal hasn't disappeared.
"We are figuring out together how best we can proceed. ... [We're] figuring out the best and most responsible path forward," Berliner added.
Meanwhile, many county residents are not pleased with Pepco's management of vegetation around utility poles and wires.
In Bethesda, residents said they're "ready to fight" Pepco's plans to cut nearly 80 trees in an easement near Pooks Hill Road last spring, Bethesda Patch reported.
Other county residents would prefer to see more vegetation cut back, so that fewer trees and tree limbs might fall on power lines in the next storm.
Would you rather see more vegetation trimming or less? Should property owners be more proactive in tree trimming on their properties? Tell us in the comments.
macadoodle
5:25 pm on Thursday, July 12, 2012
Keep hugging the 100-year-old trees and then complain bitterly when they fall on utility poles and wires, disrupting the lives of thousands of residents. Never ending stand-offs, like the proverbial gerbil in a circular cage, round and round the discussion goes while real people go without power, food rots in refrigerators, and accidents proliferate on streets without stoplights. Trees are not irreplaceable. New ones can be planted. And they will live for another 50-100 years until a new generation arises to protest their demise.
The responsibility of politicos is to improve the quality of life and services for the people they represent. There should be no other agenda.
K Citizen
12:57 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Have we learned nothing from Metros lack of preventative maintenance through the years?! Spend the money now to bury the lines, temporary band aids are obviously not going to continue to work!
Jessica Warren
2:20 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Yes trimming the trees is good but is only a temporary fix. Next storm may knock down more trees which in turn may knock down more lines and poles. Take hint if you just spend the money to bury the lines then come next storm we might not have so many outages.
Louise Crane
5:21 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
The trees in southern Montgomery County are old, brittle and often diseased. They need complete replacement with trees which will not grow so tall, just as DC does. Meanwhile, I am tired of those who want to save my trees. Will they reimburse me for the contents of my refrigerator/freezers each time the power goes off for 24+ hours? I want drastic trimming of trees around power lines so PEPCO can keep my power on! Otherwise, I want Montgomery County tree lovers to reimburse me $400-500 when I have to throw out the contents of my refrigerator/freezers (I have two).