Improve grid reliability today.

BY SARA SANKOWICH, Unitil

In 2011, the New England region faced two significant weather events: Hurricane Irene and an unseasonably early October snowstorm—on top of other frequent major storm events in the preceding four years. Utilities could not avoid the fact that, during these damaging storm events of increasing frequency, customers were greatly impacted. In response, some New England utilities considered creating advanced vegetation management strategies, a plan of action that goes beyond a standard vegetation management program. This option can be a large and costly program that extends over one to multiple years, or it can be a small, specialized program.

Regardless, an advanced vegetation management strategy needs to be detailed and well planned out, tailored to a utility’s needs and its customers’ needs.