Trends in North American UVM

1. Trends in North American UVM Trends in North American Utility Vegetation Management (UVM) William Porter Principal Author of CN Utility Consulting Utility Vegetation Management Benchmark & Industry Intelligence (2010)

2. Trends in North American UVMOverview Some Metrics We Are Covering Today: I. Snapshot of North American Utilities • UVM Program Drivers • Cycles and Scheduling Methodology • Clearance Requirements • UVM Methods • Production • Customer Issues • Reliability • Regulations • Conclusion

3. Introduction • Basic Trend In North American UVM: Right Tree-Right Place • CNUC Objective: Discover Industry Best Management Practices (BMPs)

4. Introduction

5. Introduction

6. SNAPSHOT OF NORTH AMERICAN UTILITIESCompany Type

7. SNAPSHOT OF NORTH AMERICAN UTILITIESUtility Type

8. SNAPSHOT OF NORTH AMERICAN UTILITIESService Territory

9. SNAPSHOT OF NORTH AMERICAN UTILITIESService Territory Description – Customer Density

10. SNAPSHOT OF NORTH AMERICAN UTILITIES Overhead System Circuit Kilometres

11. SNAPSHOT OF NORTH AMERICAN UTILITIES Overhead System Span Kilometres

12. SNAPSHOT OF NORTH AMERICAN UTILITIES Tree Population

13. SNAPSHOT OF NORTH AMERICAN UTILITIES Tree Population

14. UVM PROGRAM DRIVERS The Most Important Program Driver Is at the Top of the Graph

15. CYCLES AND SCHEDULING METHODOLOGYCycle Definitions

16. CYCLES AND SCHEDULING METHODOLOGYCycle Lengths

17. CYCLES AND SCHEDULING METHODOLOGYCycle Scheduling Methodology

18. CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTSCalifornia’s Clearance Requirements • GO 95 Rule 35: California has the most comprehensive UVM regulation in North America • Comments made by utilities with requirements: • This enhances cycle times. • They are our major negotiating tool • for obtaining what is proper clearance. • Clearance requirements set clear • expectations and assist with funding • requests.

19. CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTSMandatory Clearance Requirements Opinions are Changing

20. CLEARANCE REQUIREMENTSDo They Work? Companies Were Asked, “ Could You Achieve 100% Compliance with a Mandatory Clearance Requirement?”

21. UVM METHODSCrew Type

22. UVM METHODSHerbicide Usage

23. UVM METHODSSpecial Programs Included in Routine Maintenance

24. PRODUCTIONCost per System Span Kilometre

25. PRODUCTIONRelative Efficiency

26. CUSTOMER ISSUESUVM Inquiries per Year

27. CUSTOMER ISSUESUVM Complaints per Year

28. CUSTOMER ISSUESPerceived Customer Disconnect • Commentary by Utilities: • Customer equates aesthetics with proper tree pruning, not aware of utility best management practices for line clearance. • Although it is getting better, customer expectations are often not in sync with safety and reliability requirements.

29. CUSTOMER ISSUESUVMProblem Solving That Requires the Most Time Ranked the Fifth Activity Out of 40 That Requires the Most Problem Solving Customer Relations Ranks Tenth

30. RELIABILITYCauses for Outages

31. RELIABILITYUS Reliability Metrics SAIDI = SAIFI = CAIDI =

32. RELIABILITYFrequency of Outages Caused by Trees

33. LAWS AND REGULATIONSFAC-0003-1

34. LAWS AND REGULATIONSIncrease in Activities Due to Federal Regulations

35. CONCLUSIONMeasuring Progress This Graph Only Includes Companies with an Established Hazard Tree Removal Program Relatively High Correlation of -0.76 Which Means: The More Trees Removed, The Better The Reliability (In other words: SAIFI is Reduced)

36. CONCLUSIONBMPs and Regulations for Right Tree in The Right Place Clear Concept of Cycle Based Scheduling or a Replacement for Cycle Scheduling. Cost Effective and Standardized Method of Tree Inventory/ Work Load Assessment. Capture and Disseminate Research and Development Results. Address the Customer Complaints Proactively, Recognizing the Political Force of an Insignificant Number of Complaints. Keep Open and Debate the Concept of Mandatory Clearance Distances.