Fredericksburg, Va. — For the 26th consecutive year, Rappahannock Electric Cooperative (REC) has earned Tree Line USA recognition, a distinction that highlights the Cooperative’s commitment to reliable service, effective vegetation management and environmental responsibility.
Trees are the leading cause of local power outages, accounting for approximately 70% of outages across REC’s service territory. To help reduce that risk, REC prunes approximately 20% of its 7,500 miles of overhead power line each year and responds to about 3,000 tree-related inquiries annually from member-owners.The Arbor Day Foundation Tree Line USA program recognizes utilities that follow industry best practices in tree care, employee training, public education and vegetation management. REC’s recognition reflects its long-standing efforts to balance electric reliability with the health and value of trees across the communities it serves.
REC also uses field observations, satellite imagery, geographic information system (GIS) mapping and circuit analytics to identify potential problem areas and guide proactive trimming. These tools help improve reliability, enhance public safety and support healthy tree growth near electric infrastructure.
“Being recognized as a Tree Line USA utility for the 26th consecutive year reflects our commitment to excellence in vegetation management,” said Cindy Devlin Musick, senior director — vegetation management. “Trees provide tremendous benefits to our communities, including wildlife habitat, shade, cleaner air and water and energy savings, but they also account for most power outages. Managing them responsibly helps us maintain reliable service while preserving the many benefits trees provide.”