COUNTY NEWS RELEASE

To mitigate hazards and power outages, a new round of tree trimming coordinated by the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) is scheduled to begin in Los Alamos and White Rock on Tuesday, January 17. Residents may see Southwest Fire Defense & Tree Services professionals throughout the townsite, White Rock, Pajarito Ski Area and Rendija Canyon.

Southwest Fire Defense & Tree Services is under contract with the Electric Distribution Division of the DPU. While DPU’s list of hazard branches covers the whole county, the current priorities are for branches in the vicinity of overhead high voltage power lines. Other trees will be addressed in the future. Department staff are responsible for identifying branches that need attention and will attempt to give residents advance notice via informational door hangers if tree trimmers need to enter their yards. Trees are trimmed only if they are in the right-of-way or on utility easements for power lines.

The tree trimming effort reduces the number and scope of power outages by removing branches and trees that are either too close to power lines or pose a risk of falling on power lines. This initiative, coupled with an aggressive operation and maintenance program, supports DPU’s Electric Reliability Plan.

It is important to note that not all lines above houses in Los Alamos and White Rock are electric power lines. The tree trimming focuses only on branches growing into power lines, not other types of cables that may be strung between poles.