In September, the Public Service Commission hosted a generic proceeding—essentially, a workshop not tied to a specific docket—to learn more about Dominion Energy South Carolina’s tree-trimming practices and to discuss the pros and cons of moving aboveground utility lines under ground. Representatives from Dominion Energy South Carolina and the Office of Regulatory Staff were present, speaking on the company’s tree-trimming practices.

The purpose of vegetation management, as Turner underlined in his presentation, is to both keep the public safe and ensure a faster response time in the event of storms. Turner noted that, generally speaking, South Carolina has 300 growing days each year—i.e., days above freezing where trees and shrubs grow. This hardiness presents unique problems, and requires careful maintenance, including by Dominion’s nine professional arborists.

Among other questions, Commissioner Butch Howard asked about the material construction of poles, asking if composite poles instead of wooden poles would be more beneficial. Turner explained that, in many spots in Charleston and Columbia, composite, concrete, or steel poles are installed, but when responding to outages and storm damage, wooden poles allow for faster installation.

You can watch the full video of the presentations at this link and can reach out to us on Facebook and Twitter with any questions.