- Mon Power deploys an aerial saw to trim trees along 230 miles of transmission lines in West Virginia.
- Helicopter-mounted saw enhances safety and efficiency, outperforming traditional ground crews.
- Tree trimming initiatives aim to prevent outages for Mon Power's 395,000 customers.
Mon Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (FE, Financial), has initiated the use of an aerial saw mounted on a helicopter to enhance tree trimming efforts along over 230 miles of high-voltage transmission lines in West Virginia. The project, which spans across 19 counties, is expected to continue through 2025. The deployment of this technology marks a significant improvement in maintaining electric reliability and safety by preventing tree-related power outages.
Equipped with 24-inch rotary blades, the aerial saw can efficiently trim branches 8 to 10 inches in diameter, particularly in environmentally sensitive or inaccessible areas. This innovative method allows for more area to be cleared in a single day compared to what traditional ground crews could accomplish in a week, thus eliminating the risks associated with manual tree trimming near high-voltage equipment.
In addition to the aerial saw project, Mon Power has already completed tree trimming along 1,700 miles of distribution lines and plans to finish an additional 3,500 miles by the end of the year. These efforts are part of Mon Power’s commitment to ensuring seamless service for its approximately 395,000 customers across 34 counties in West Virginia.
Mon Power President Jim Myers stressed the importance of keeping high-voltage transmission lines free from interference to maintain system reliability. The aerial saw's implementation not only ensures this but also enhances safety and operational efficiency. Mon Power continues to leverage such advanced technologies as part of its ongoing vegetation management strategy.
