Appalachian Power, a leading provider of electricity in Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, is pleased to announce a significant initiative aimed at enhancing the safety and reliability of the company’s distribution network. Throughout September, the company will be utilizing helicopters to aid in trimming trees along its electric lines in Ohio and Marshall counties.
Trees and vegetation near power lines create challenges for power companies as they can cause a significant threat to the reliability of the electrical grid. Fallen branches and downed trees during severe weather can lead to power outages, inconvenience for customers, and create hazards jeopardizing the safety of crews and contractors.
To address this issue proactively, Appalachian Power subcontracted with LaRoche Aviation, a division of La Roche Tree Services, to assist with this reliability initiative. The helicopters are equipped with precision cutting tools and staffed by experienced personnel. Appalachian Power has crew members assigned to this project who are on standby to quickly address any outages that may occur while this trimming is occurring.
By using helicopters for tree trimming, Appalachian Power can significantly reduce the risk of outages and enhance the resilience of the power grid. Appalachian Power remains dedicated to finding innovative solutions to maintain the highest level of service to the communities it serves. For more information, please contact Erikka Storch at (304)231-7443 or estorch@aep.com.
Appalachian Power has 1 million customers in Virginia, West Virginia, and Tennessee (as AEP Appalachian Power). It is part of American Electric Power, which is focused on building a smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom energy solutions. AEP’s approximately 17,000 employees operate and maintain the nation’s largest electricity transmission system and more than 224,000 miles of distribution lines to efficiently deliver safe, reliable power to nearly 5.6 million regulated customers in 11 states. AEP is also one of the nation’s largest electricity producers with approximately 31,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including more than 6,900 megawatts of renewable energy.
