In an effort to help keep the lights on when severe weather hits, Interstate Power and Light Company, an Alliant Energy company, employees and contract crews will be in parts of Howard, Chickasaw and Floyd counties beginning the week of May 20 to trim trees away from overhead power lines. Crews will be working in various parts of the community and surrounding areas over a three to six week period.
    “Trees and power lines are not a good combination – especially when storms bring lightning, ice or high winds,” explains Dan Green, manager of line clearance for IPL. Green says tree trimming is essential to maintaining safe and reliable electric service, “that’s why we work hard to keep trees around overhead power lines trimmed properly. Our hope is that by doing this maintenance now, our customers’ power will not be interrupted when storms hit.”
    Tree-trimming is a key part of Alliant Energy’s multi-million dollar annual investment to help ensure reliable and safe electric service for customers, especially during stormy weather. “Removing hazardous tree limbs is a proactive way that Alliant Energy safeguards electrical reliability for its customers,” Green adds.
    The company visits each community in its three-state service area, on average, every three to four years to clear trees away from pole-to-pole power lines.
    “We use the most current practices set forth by the National Arbor Day Foundation and the International Society of Arboriculture to preserve the health of trees,” Green says.
    Alliant Energy employees and contract crews consider several factors when determining whether to trim or remove a tree.
    To maintain appropriate clearance, crew members must consider how much the tree will grow between now and the next trim cycle. Slower-growing trees require less trimming; faster-growing trees require more trimming.
    Tree trimmers plan ahead for weather conditions, asking themselves: Will strong winds cause the tree to make contact with the wires? Will movement in the wires, such as sagging due to high temperatures or the weight of ice, cause the wires to contact the tree?
    Crew members consider the impact trimming will have on the overall health and stability of the tree.
    Alliant Energy does not remove or perform heavy trimming on trees for the service wire (line from the pole to your home). “We will disconnect service free of charge to allow for safe pruning,” says Green. “Advance notice of 72 hours or more is needed before disconnection.”
    Residents of Elma, Ionia, New Hampton RR, New Haven, Colwell, North Washington, Bassett and Riceville can expect trees located beneath or within 10 feet of a power line to be trimmed. They can also expect crews to chip and haul away brush and small branches and all stumps to be treated for prevention of re-sprouting.
    Crews will also remove dead or dying trees, and/or trees that have a badly split trunk or limb, lean dangerously close to wires or are a fast-growing, weak-wooded variety. A representative from Alliant Energy will contact customers in person if a tree must be removed.
    Interruptions to electric service due to tree trimming are unlikely. Customers with questions or concerns about line clearance are encouraged to call Alliant Energy’s 24-hour Customer Service Center at 1-800-ALLIANT, visit www.alliantenergy.com/treetrimming or e-mail customercare@alliantenergy.com.
    “We regret any inconvenience, but hope people will understand that customer and employee safety is our highest priority,” concludes Green.