Vegetation causes about 40 percent of power outages that affect PECO customers. When branches or trees impact electric infrastructure, sustained power outages are more likely. That’s why PECO continues to significantly invest in vegetation management to keep trees and other vegetation a safe distance away from powerlines to avoid potential issues.
This ongoing work and adherence to industry best practices has earned PECO the Tree Line USA 2025 Certification from the Arbor Day Foundation, which recognizes excellence in tree care, workforce expertise, community education, and conservation.
At the Tree Line USA conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, PECO’s vegetation management team received this certification, reaffirming the company’s commitment to a greener future and its Path to Clean initiative. PECO has earned this recognition annually since 2019.
Each year, PECO invests millions in vegetation management across 14,000 miles of electric lines, ensuring compliance with federal reliability standards. But reliability is just one benefit. PECO practices Integrated Vegetation Management on transmission corridors, which promotes ecological health through forest management, infrastructure maintenance, and wildlife habitat preservation.
Since 2004, PECO has awarded more than 400 Green Region grants totaling $3 million to support open space, conservation, and environmental education across southeastern Pennsylvania. Also, last year, PECO partnered with the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to help plant 5,797 trees and support “Tree Tenders,” a respected volunteer program that has trained 6,000-plus community members since 1993.
“PECO’s long-standing support has been essential to the success of our tree programs across the region,” said Dan Preziosi, Director of Trees at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. “Their partnership helps us get more trees in the ground, engage more volunteers, and build greener, healthier communities.”
PECO’s ReLeaf program also expands the region’s tree canopy by supporting the planting of one tree for every one removed during maintenance. Over the past five years, more than 50,000 trees have been planted through ReLeaf.
Learn more about how PECO is helping to shape a cleaner energy future for the region.
