The Board of Public Utilities (BPU) requires JCP&L to provide notification at least seven (7) days before the work will commence. Residents will receive either a “green” tag or an “orange” tag as notification of the tree maintenance activities on your street. The “green” tag is a general notice that trimming will occur. The “orange” tag is provided to landowners that have a tree that may need to be removed, pruned, or treated.
Landowners that receive an “orange” tag: Landowners should call the person listed under contact information on the “orange” tag within seven (7) days of receipt to ask questions or schedule an onsite meeting with a JCP&L representative to request more information about your specific tree(s). Please note that you must sign and return the “orange” tag to JCP&L.
Schedule: The City anticipates posting a weekly schedule of the locations of tree maintenance activities on the City’s website.
Why does JCP&L complete vegetative maintenance? The BPU requires vegetative maintenance along utility rights-of-way. The current vegetation maintenance rules are effective as of August 17, 2015. For a copy of the current BPU Electric Utility Line Vegetation Management Rules click here . The BPU’s Electric Service definitions are found here .
Lock out zones: Starting on January 1, 2016, vegetation management practices shall include removal of all overhanging vegetation from the lock out zone on the distribution circuit. Lock out zones are the portion of JCP&L’s distribution circuits, which begins at the substation or switching station and continues to the first protective device. Protective devices include fuses, switches and transformers. For circuits that do not have a protective device, JCP&L’s engineering department and Vegetation Manager will designate the area referred to as the lock out zone. JCP&L has indicated that those roads considered “lock out zones” will require more extensive tree trimming and/or removal in order to protect the utility lines since if something goes wrong on these lines there is nothing to prevent the transformer from being tripped and the power going out. Mature trees may be exempt from the above requirements at the reasonable discretion of JCP&L’s Vegetation Manager as it pertains to the lock out zone. Roadways that JCP&L consider lock out zones within the City include:
- Allen Street between Quarry Street and Jackson Street
- Bridge Street between Route 29/179 and the bridge to New Hope
- Brunswick Avenue/Route 518 between Swan Street and the West Amwell boundary
- Church Street between Main Street and N. Franklin Street
- Clinton Street between York Street and Delaware Street
- Coryell Street between Route 179 and the Lamberts Lane
- Delevan Street between George Street and Clinton Street
- George Street between Church and Coryell Streets and Delevan Street and Delaware Avenue
- Gordon’s Alley between Bridge and Church Streets
- Hancock Street between Route 179 and the West Amwell boundary
- Lambert Lane between Bridge Street and Coryell Street
- Main Street between Ferry Street and York Street
- McCready’s Alley between Bridge and Church Streets
- Quarry Street between Route 29 and Rocktown Road
- Rocktown Road between Quarry Street and the West Amwell boundary
- Route 179 between Washington Street and Grant Avenue
- Route 29 between Swan Street and Bridge Street
- Swan Street between Main Street and Brunswick Avenue/Route 518
- Union Street between Mount Hope Street and Delaware Avenue
- Washington Street