Tree contact with power lines is the single leading cause of power outages on our system. In fact, it was the root cause of the August 2003 blackout. The largest in North American history, the August 2003 blackout affected nearly 50 million people in eight states in the eastern United States and Canada. Several trees that grew close enough to a transmission line caused a flashover and the initial line outage, and led to a cascading effect of outages throughout the Northeast.

At O&R, we do everything we can to strike a healthy balance between our appreciation for trees and our obligation to provide safe, reliable electric service. That's why we have two comprehensive vegetation management programs that address our tree trimming practices along transmission rights-of-way and distribution lines.

O&R Nationally Recognized for Tree Management Practices

The National Arbor Day Foundation has named Orange and Rockland Utilities, Inc. a "Tree Line USA Utility" in recognition of its "national leadership in caring for trees while meeting service objectives."

The Foundation recognized O&R for training its workers in quality tree care practices and for helping its customers to plant appropriate trees near utility lines. This approach not only helps to provide beautiful trees for the future, but also results in long-term operational savings for the utility.