FirstEnergy clears way for power

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

Customers with First-Energy service soon may receive a letter of planned vegetation management service.

“We have a comprehensive vegetation management program,” said Chris Ick, FirstEnergy spokesman.

The vegetation management program involves clearing of rights-of-way for transmission lines that provide power to thousands.

“Our goal is to keep vegetation from being able to come into contact with live wires,” Ick said. “Trees touching wires is the single largest cause of power outages.”

Ick said FirstEnergy works on the vegetation program all the time.

“We might come through every four to five years,” he said.

FirstEnergy uses approved tree contractors to do the work so the character of the neighborhood is maintained.

For more information about the vegetation management program, go to firstenergycorp.com.