Eversource To Trim Trees From Helicopter In Manchester

MANCHESTER, CT — As part of its efforts to ensure safe, reliable service for customers, Eversource Energy will be using a low-flying helicopter to trim tree limbs from the sides of a power line corridor in central Connecticut, including the towns of Glastonbury, Manchester, Middletown and Portland.

Weather permitting, flights will take place between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. from Monday, Feb. 17 through Friday, Feb. 28.

Highly skilled pilots working for Eversource will conduct the overhead trimming using rotating blades and a helicopter. This helps to significantly reduce the amount of time it takes climbing crews to conduct the work manually, reduces the risk of injury to tree crews, and protects the natural habitat of many native plants and wildlife found in the right of way.

Eversource’s transmission lines are the superhighway of the power grid and are critical to deliver clean energy to the region. When a tree grows too close or falls onto these critical portions of the electric system, it can interrupt service for thousands of customers across multiple communities. The clearance area around transmission lines provides the necessary protection, which is why it’s essential to keep this space free of incompatible vegetation to prevent power outages or potential public safety issues.