Vegetation Management Best Practices

Reduce common risks and maintain system reliability

BY SARA SANKOWICH, Unitil Corporation

Most North American electric utilities understand that vegetation management is a key factor in maintaining system reliability. While many utilities have designed and implemented vegetation management programs to mitigate risk on an ongoing basis, successful execution of these programs requires specialized staff with forestry expertise, as well as cross-team collaboration.

Utilities can help ensure a successful vegetation management program by being aware of risks—and, conversely, best practices—that exist in ongoing program management. Awareness of these practices can increase understanding and process efficiencies for system arborists, other utility departments and utility leadership, and line crews alike.