In 2023, Oshawa Power experienced 141 unplanned sustained outages due to various factors such as motor vehicle accidents, inclement weather, and loss of supply. Approximately 13% of these incidents, totaling 18 outages, were attributed to tree contact.
Tree-related outages occur when branches interfere with our overhead primary lines. The mechanism is straightforward: adverse weather conditions or other external factors can dislodge tree limbs, causing them to fall across our lines. If the branch spans multiple lines, this contact allows electricity to track across the foreign object, resulting in a fault. This fault triggers an upstream breaker or fuse to open, leading to power interruptions for a number of customers serviced by that supply. To preempt such disruptions, proactive maintenance plays a pivotal role.
Our Tree Trimming Program exemplifies this proactive approach. We segment our service territory into three regions, systematically patrolling primary lines to identify areas where local vegetation poses potential risks to our electrical infrastructure. Collaborating with utility arborists, we prioritize one region each year, ensuring comprehensive vegetation management across a three-year cycle.
“Given our extensive infrastructure weaving through densely vegetated areas across Oshawa, managing tree limbs near our power lines is critical. Our consistent Tree Trimming Program and thorough assessment of nearby trees and vegetation preemptively mitigate outage risks, fortifying grid reliability year-round—especially during severe weather conditions prone to limb breakage.”
– Kent Fulling, Manager, Distribution & Planning
Trimming operations commence annually in January, aiming to conclude major activities before foliage reaches peak growth. Often, seemingly innocuous vegetation can unexpectedly cause issues once fully leafed out. Even after completing scheduled trimming, our vigilance continues.
Our teams promptly address reported concerns from both our crews and customers, swiftly responding to mitigate potential hazards before they escalate into outages.
Recently introduced, our Issue Reporting Tool empowers customers to alert us to infrastructure concerns, including requests for tree trimming.
Issue Reporting Tool
Our new Issue Reporting tool will allow you to report issues with transformers and request tree trimming and pest control. If you notice an issue with our electrical grid, please click below to report it to our team.
Each year, our crews and certified arborists diligently trim hundreds, sometimes thousands, of branches to proactively prevent disruptions. As a cornerstone of our preventive maintenance strategy, the Tree Trimming Program exemplifies our commitment to enhancing reliability for residences, businesses, and critical institutions across Oshawa.
About Oshawa Power
Oshawa Power is dedicated to the evolving needs of our customers as a leading enabler of integrated critical energy and infrastructure. Oshawa Power is wholly owned by the great City of Oshawa.
