Vegetation Management

Through an integrated vegetation management program, we maintain vegetation on more than 12,500 miles and 150,000 acres on transmission easements across the state. Our maintenance activities are necessary to provide reliable and economical service to all customers. The Georgia Power vegetation management program involves mowing, cutting dangerous trees, pruning, applying herbicide and removing trees.

To view an animated presentation on the types that are allowed in transmission rights-of-way, click here.

Mowing

We clear vegetation and redefine the easement width with heavy-duty power equipment. Vegetation near structures, guy wires, fences, streams or other difficult-to-access areas may be cut by hand tools. We typically mow once every six years. A combination of mowing and herbicide is used to manage fast growing tall woody species. This cycle is a best practice to ensure a safe and reliable electric system, as well as the most economical.

If you are the property owner, you can mow the easement more often. If not, you must get permission from the property owner.

Danger Tree Cutting

"Dangerous trees" are trees off the easement that are dead, dying, diseased or severely leaning, that could damage the transmission facilities (conductors, guy wires or structures). All transmission lines are patrolled at least once a year by air and by ground to find dangerous trees.

Pruning

We remove limbs from trees off the easement area that are growing into the easement space. Pruning may be done with proper equipment, or by climbing or bucket tree crews. Pruning cycles vary from two to 15 years.

Herbicide Application

We apply non-restricted and selective-use herbicides with low-volume backpack sprayers. We use only non-restricted herbicides that anyone can buy. Herbicide crews are trained to target fast growing plant species and woody species that have a potential mature height greater than 15 feet.

Tree Removal

We remove "inappropriate" trees from the easement area. Inappropriate trees are species with a potential mature height greater than 15 feet. Unfortunately, sometimes these trees were planted by property owners. They must be removed along with self-seeded trees.

Generally, shrubs, vegetable gardens, grasses and low-growing trees are allowed on the easement area as long as they do not block or restrict access to the area.