Dig into safety and reliability
Plant with a plan this spring
March is the perfect time to bring your yard to life with some new plants. But before you grab your shovel and gardening gloves, make a plan to ensure you plant safely and with reliable electricity in mind.
Following the tips in this guide is your opportunity to improve the reliability of your service. Your attention to planting and maintenance practices combined with PEC’s expert vegetation maintenance program makes for a more resilient system when bad weather strikes. We can’t stop Mother Nature, but we can work with her!
Right tree, right place
As a homeowner, you want your trees to be strong and healthy — so do we! Help protect your plants; never allow trees, bushes, or plants of any size to grow directly under electric lines. Before planting, consider the mature size of the species you’ve selected; falling trees and branches may cause storm outages. Refer to this chart to see how far away your tree should be planted from power lines.
Always dial 811 before you dig
Power lines and other utilities can be anywhere underground. Always call 811 before you dig — it’s the law and could save your life. Learn more at Texas811.org.
Planting around underground equipment
To work safely, lineworkers require ample space around underground electric equipment. When planting near the green or gray metal boxes connected to the electrical system (called pad-mounted transformers), leave a 10-foot clearance in front of this equipment and a five-foot clearance around the sides and back.
These practices not only keep you and our crews safe — they also help us get the power back on as quickly as possible during an outage. Together, we can grow our reliability! Get more tips for safe, reliable planting at pec.coop/yard.