Right-of-Way

According to the National Electric Code, all of RCEC's overhead power lines should have a 30-foot easement (15 feet each side of center). Since the co-op doesn't own the property on which our poles are set, we depend on our members to allow us to do what is necessary to keep our right-of-way clear.

Quite often, those frustrating blinking lights are caused by an electric power line's interaction with trees. Each power line is equipped with breakers to protect both the co-op's equipment and that of our members. When a tree limb brushes against a power line, particularly during windy or stormy weather, it can cause your lights to blink. Trees cause more than half of all outages, and those outages can be very costly to fix.

Well maintained right-of-ways are the only way to go. Not only does a clear right-of-way provide better power on a more reliable basis, it also allows easy access for outage and maintenance work that makes our job of keeping lights on safer and less expensive.

We work very hard to choose the best way to trim or remove all trees that could be a threat to reliable electric service. We rely on our members to allow our right-of-way representatives to do what is necessary to prevent such occurences.

Without the cooperation of everyone along a given easement, the power to all is negatively affected. As a homeowner, you can help us help you by making sure we know if there is a tree around your home that needs to be removed in order to keep the right of way clear.

If you have any questions about our right-of-way programs or policies, please give us a call.