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             California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 5301            San Francisco, CA 94102
        CONTACT: Dianne Dienstein      January 23, 1997  CPUC - 2
                 415-703-2423                       (I.94-06-012)

  CPUC MAKES ELECTRIC UTILITY TREE-TRIMMING STANDARDS STRONGER

    The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today
adopted revised and stronger tree-trimming standards for
California's investor-owned utilities, including Pacific Gas &
Electric, Southern California Edison, San Diego Gas & Electric,
Pacific Power and Light, and Sierra Pacific Power.  The
Commission's overriding concern in setting the standards is to
maintain electric system reliability during severe weather or
disasters.  The standards should reduce the number of outages and
downed power lines by reducing the likelihood of trees and
branches contacting electric lines.
    The improved standards should also benefit the health and
safety of utility and construction workers, gardeners and others
who work around power lines, property owners whose lives and
property are vulnerable to fire due to downed power lines, and
the general public.  In revising the standards, minimizing
disruption of the natural environment, and the aesthetics of
affected property were also considered.
    One of the main ways the revised standards will improve
safety and service reliability is by requiring utilities to make
sure trees and other vegetation are maintained at specified
distances from overhead lines.  For the typical electric lines
running through most residential areas, trees and branches must
be kept at least 18 inches from overhead lines, depending on line
voltage, the potential for arcing, and the possibility of line
contact.
    For higher voltage lines, greater distances are required.
The guidelines suggest creating at least a four-foot minimum
                             -more-
radial distance around 2,400 - 72,000 volt conductors, 6 feet
around 72,000 - 110,000 volt conductors, 10 feet around 110,000 -
300,000 volt conductors, and 15 feet around conductors carrying
more than 300,000 volts, at the time vegetation is trimmed.
Under the rules, utilities must maintain clearances between
electric lines and vegetation that is visible from the ground,
sufficient for persons working around lines to keep themselves
and their tools away from danger.  An 18-inch distance must be
maintained from 750 - 105,000 volt conductors and supply cables
and from 0 - 5,000 volt trolley contact feeder and span wires.
    The Commission did not specify maximum distances to be
achieved at the time of trimming, or when and how trimming
activities are to be accomplished.  In many areas, greater
clearances may be required by provisions of the Public Resources
Code that are enforced by the California Department of Forestry
and Fire Protection.
    Exceptions to the standards are allowed for conductors
carrying less than 60,000 volts if trimming is impractical, where
the utility has made an unsuccessful but good faith effort to
obtain permission to trim, and in unusual circumstances beyond
the utility's control.  However, the Commission can direct a
utility to take prompt remedial action even under such
circumstances.
    To lessen the cost impact of meeting the new tree-trimming
requirements on utilities and their ratepayers, compliance is
phased in over a two-year period, with 25 percent of the
necessary trimming required in six months, 50 percent in 12
months, 75 percent in 18 months, and full compliance in 24
months.
    The CPUC will monitor utilities' progress in meeting the
standards, and take prompt enforcement action against any utility
which fails to meet the timetable.
    The proceeding will remain open to consider: the impact of
local ordinances' restrictions on tree trimming, tool use near
overhead lines, the relationship between county and local
ordinances, adjacent owners' property rights and obligations,
conduct of tree trimming by utilities, and public awareness and
education programs relating to tree trimming and overhead line
safety issues.  An evidentiary hearing on these issues will be
scheduled within the next 90 days.                    ###