www.arborage.com ARBOR AGE OCTOBER 2014 29
relationships with municipalities are of importance, the utility will
want to select contractors who have good reputations locally and
experience with town or city leadership.
After a major storm event or project completion, an
acknowledgement of effort can go a long way toward maintaining
a positive utility/contractor relationship. Utilities might consider
offering T-shirts, hats, or a simple list of stats touting number of
trees removed or customers restored in a given timeframe.
A POSITIVE RELATIONSHIP ON BOTH SIDES
Selecting the right vendors and having local crews in reserve for
storms is critical to a utility's ability to ensure safety for its customers
and deliver reliable electric service. Line-clearance companies who
hold the appropriate insurance and employ qualifi ed line-clearance
workers meet the critical basic requirements to bid. While these
factors are important, the ability to communicate clearly and openly,
ask questions, and work collaboratively with municipalities, other
companies, and the utility itself cannot be overemphasized. Open
communication can only help in building a positive relationship
for both sides.
Sara Sankowich is system arborist at Unitil, a public utility
holding company, headquartered in Hampton, New Hampshire,
that provides electric and natural gas distribution services in
New England.
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
