Duke Energy to conduct aerial tree trimming in area

PLAINFIELD – Duke Energy Indiana plans to clear out vegetation overgrowth along several high-voltage power lines in west-central and southwest Indiana, including the Greencastle area.

The project will help ensure safe and reliable service across the Duke Energy electric system, which carries power for thousands of customers in the region.

Because these high-voltage lines span several communities and in some places cross rugged and remote terrain, a specialty contract helicopter tree trimming crew, using an aerial saw, will side-trim trees and vegetation along power line corridors that extend from Bedford to Mitchell, from Brazil to Greencastle, and from West Terre Haute to Rosedale.

The helicopter and aerial saw provide a way to trim trees in hard-to-reach locations.

The work is expected to begin on or about Tuesday, Sept. 7 and take approximately 10 days to complete, depending on weather conditions.

Federal regulations mandate that key power transmission line corridors be free of vegetation that might interfere with safely operating and maintaining those power lines. Property owners along the corridors have been notified by mail and by door-to-door contact. All areas where the helicopter will work have been clearly flagged and marked in advance of trimming.

Anyone with questions about this project can call Duke Energy Vegetation Management at 800-723-9684.

Duke Energy Indiana, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, provides about 6,600 megawatts of owned electric capacity to approximately 840,000 customers in a 23,000-square-mile service area, making it Indiana’s largest electric supplier.