Eversource to Spend $30 Million to Trim Trees

MANCHESTER, NH - Eversource, one of the Granite State's largest utility companies, is investing about $30 million in resources to trim trees around more than 3,000 miles of electrical lines in numerous communities in the central and western part of the state, according to the company.

Eversource, a company spokesperson noted, works year-round to trim and remove tree limbs that threaten the electric system while simultaneously respecting the natural landscape. This increased effort "balances the need for providing reliable electricity and maintaining community aesthetics," according to a statement. The effort follows a "a rigorous four-year trimming cycle in response to the 2008 ice storm" that knocked out power to hundreds of thousands in the state for numerous days.

"New Hampshire is the second most forested state in the country and trees hold a special place in our hearts and landscape," said Bob Allen, manager of Vegetation Management at Eversource. "But they can also have a devastating effect on the electric system, causing more than sixty percent of all power outages. Our standard and enhanced tree trimming programs not only improve day-to-day reliability for customers, they also allow us to identify and remove hazardous trees before Mother Nature does."

That program has already helped to reduce the number of tree-caused outages by 13 percent across New Hampshire, and even more in some areas, according to the company.

Trees in nearly 90 communities will be worked on. The most extensive work will be done in Hillsborough and Cheshire counties.

Photo credit: Eversource