Hired by PUD in March 2006 Previously Land Operations Mgr and … · 2018. 7. 30. · •Bird interactions with power lines may cause bird mortalities, which, in turn, may result

Roy Schwilke Right of Way Superintendent

Public Utility District No. 1 of Okanogan County

• Hired by PUD in March 2006

• Previously Land Operations Mgr and Range Dept. Mgr for Colville Confederated Tribes

• Have worked in Agriculture and Natural Resource Planning and Management for 15+ years with experience in Forestry, Range, Manufacturing and Construction.

• B. S. Agribusiness, University of Idaho. 1995

• Responsible for PUD Utility Vegetation Management, including all ROW clearance, tree trimming, weed control, Avian Protection Program and work on many other ROW projects as needed.

• Born and raised in Omak, WA, graduated Omak High in 1987.

PUD Utility Vegetation Management • Prior to 2006, PUD UVM was coordinated and managed by District line personnel. • Scope: to oversee PUD Utility Vegetation Management, including Cycle Tree Trimming,

Transmission ROW Clearance, Weed Control and ROW Maintenance for the electrical Distribution and Transmission System and all PUD properties. ROW Superintendent hired March 2006. Scope of position is to increase priority of vegetation management by contract tree trimming and ROW clearance in all service areas, following ANSI industry standards for tree-conductor clearance, ROW clearance, providing a safe and reliable distribution and transmission system, reducing tree-related outages, reducing fire hazards and maintaining distribution and transmission ROW’s by following a 3-year cycle of tree trimming and comprehensive inventory of all right of ways and power lines.

• Asplundh Tree Expert Co. contracted with PUD since March 2006 to provide tree trimming and clearance on all distribution ROW. Asplundh remains as the PUD’s primary tree trimming contractor and is currently near completion of the second cycle of tree trimming in the PUD service area.

• UVM is one of the largest utility operations expenses, @ avg. $485,000 per year • PUD has 30 distinct UVM service areas, comprising municipalities and rural areas in between,

that are fed by 16 substations in the largest county in the state. Total line miles for overhead distribution is in excess of 1,400, much of that in rural and forested areas.

• Cycle Tree trimming is designed with the goal to provide clearance and tree trimming coverage of approx 33% of the total area each year in three Districts with a coverage area from the Twisp River in the Methow Valley to Pontiac Ridge in the northeastern part of the county.

• Contract tree trimming budget for 2011 provides 1 full time, 3-man crew plus equipment. • PUD line crews also participate in line clearing and ROW clearance in three Districts. • Each service area has distinct and unique needs in terms of overhead conductor clearance and

tree related conflicts, with higher priority being placed on rural and forested areas for greater clearance, removal of fast growing trees and ROW maintenance.

Industry Standards – Tree Trimming and ROW Clearance

• ANSI Standard A300 – Part 1 – Tree Trimming – PUD and its contractor, Asplundh follow this industry standard and Best Management Practices therein, for all tree trimming and pruning activities.

• Industry Standard - Minimum Clearance Guidelines for 7.6kV to 14.4kV Voltage - Minimum 9’ for Fast Growing species for Topping, Minimum 10’ for Fast Growing species on L-Trim and V-Trim cuts, Minimum 12’ clearance for all overhead on all species, Minimum 8’ clearance for all side trims on all species.

• Okanogan PUD specifications require greater than industry standards, seeking to provide clearance in excess of 10 to 15’ for 7.6kV and 13.2kV Distribution lines and a minimum 50’ ROW clearance of all vegetation for 115kV Transmission Lines.

• Tree Trimming Law - RCW 64.12.035 and NESC Rule 218 provide immunity from liability to utilities for tree trimming and guidelines to adhere to for distribution and transmission vegetation removal within the ROW.

• Shigo – Pruning Trees Near Electrical Utility Lines – Provides techniques and guidelines adopted by ISA (International Society of Arboriculture), Unions, Contractors Associations, PUD Associations and Tree Workers universally. Contractors with PUD follow these pruning guidelines.

PUD and its contractors utilize ANSI A-300, Part 1, Standard for Tree Trimming, utilizing directional pruning, drop crotch trims and collar cuts to direct tree growth away from power lines. PUD also seeks to remove fast growing, dead trees, naturally seeded trees and hazard trees within its ROW in all areas

Specific Cuts

Distribution Tree Trimming

Example of L-Trim in Omak

Left – @18/1 View East to 17/8 in 2007, “before”

Right – Structure # 18/1 View East in 2009, “after”

Loup Loup 115kV Transmission Line corridor – South Summit

Maximizing Transmission Right of Way clearance…

Removal of Hazard Trees (dead snags, leaning trees, diseased trees) is an important part of maintaining the PUD Right of Way.

Avian Protection Plan • Bird interactions with power lines may cause bird mortalities, which, in turn, may result in

outages, violations of bird protection laws, or raise concerns state and federal resource agencies and the public.

• The Avian Protection Program, developed by the PUD, is intended to ensure compliance with legal requirements, while improving distribution system reliability. PUD’s management and employees are responsible for managing bird interactions with power lines and are committed to reducing bird/animal electrocutions and improve system safety for raptors and other migratory birds.

• Avian Protection Plan (APP) has internal reporting requirements that linemen, serviceman, the PUD Department of Environmental and Regulatory Affairs and the office of the Right of Way Superintendent coordinate to manage Avian issues. The PUD also has reporting requirements with the US Fish & Wildlife Service and the PUD works cooperatively with Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife to help reduce and prevent raptor to conductor conflicts and improve electrical system reliability. This is done by reframing poles and the infrastructure on them or by adding bird protective guards to pole and conductors to prevent electrocution of birds and other animals (squirrels).

• The PUD uses conductor covers, anti-perch guards, jumper wire covers and bird flight diverters mounted directly on the conductor to divert the flight path of birds, especially raptors and geese.

• Osprey populations here in the Okanogan have steadily been on the increase in the last ten (10) years. To help mitigate those concerns, the PUD is very active in installing nesting platforms and protecting structures from nesting ospreys, steadily reducing any fatalities or incidents in the last few years.

What Happens if Utilities ignore Bird/Conductor conflicts?

• Migratory Bird Treaty Act; Bald & Golden Eagle Protection Act; Endangered Species Act. These three federal laws govern and regulate how utilities must be proactive in bird protection.

• US Fish & Wildlife Service can and will levy fines against utilities, corporations and municipalities if they, through the course of business or operations, are responsible for the death or harassment of raptors and other protected migratory birds. “In other words – provide protection or we fine you”

• USFWS can also force utilities into MOU (Memorandum of Agreement) if they don’t comply. “In other words – we will tell you how to operate, how to build lines.”

• The Okanogan PUD is proactive in its approach to the safety and protection of migratory birds and works well with the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife and the US Fish & Wildlife Service; active in reporting, retro-fitting and documentation of bird conflicts. We have an extensive inventory program and are adding a layer to our mapping system that allows us to track these issues and prevent electrocutions and respond quickly to bird problems.

• “In other words – we take it seriously and its recognized by the industry and the State and Federal agencies”

Pine Creek Distribution Line – Avian Protection at work..

Bird fight diverter

Triangle perch guard

Conductor cover

Importance of Nest Management and Platforms..

Bad osprey… Good Osprey…

Year Contract Cost Small Works

Hours Trim Removal Brush Replacement $ Ratio Cost/Hr

2006 $308,395 $4,472 2269 2076 985 48625 $1,695 2.11 $135.92

2007 525,400 8,740 3424 3371 2110 86846 $2,510 1.60 153.45

2008 598,488 10,952 3735 4565 2102 16430 $927 2.17 160.24

2009 648,074 33,211 3865 4229 2966 139625 $2,624 1.43 167.68

2010 564,578 1,400 3289 3769 2904 145850 267 1.30 171.66

2011 224,361 1,325 1309 1154 858 59970 0 1.34 171.40

(through Sept 15th)

Totals $2,869,296 $60,100 17,891 19,164 11,925 497,346 (11.42 ac)

$8,023 1.61 $160.38

TREE TRIMMING TOTALS

Includes Loup Loup Transmission Line (T1) – DNR, F&W, Private Lands cleared 2001. USFS cleared 2009 115kV Transmission Lines T2-T7 – DOE Brush Control around structures completed 2009 (T2 – BR-OK, T3 – Foster Cr., T4 – BR-PAT., T5 – OK-OM, T6 – TON-OR., T7 – WH- WHST) T-8 – Methow Transmission Line – weed control only on Gold Creek Substation site – Field mowing and noxious weed control Cycle1 Trimming on all 30geographic service areas w/in PUD service area completed Cycle 2 Trimming – 90% complete, to be finished by end of year 2011.

Another Way of Thinking…

TREE TRIMMING TOTALS - thru 9/15/11YEAR CONTRACT COST SMALL WORKS HOURS TRIM REMOVAL BRUSH (sq/ft) REPLACEMENT $ RATIO COST/HR2006 $308,395 $4,472 2269 2076 985 48625 $1,695 2.11 135.92

2007 $525,400 $8,740 3424 3371 2110 86846 $2,510 1.60 153.45

2008 $598,488 $10,952 3735 4565 2102 16430 $927 2.17 160.24

2009 $648,074 $33,211 3865 4229 2966 139625 $2,624 1.43 167.68

2010 $564,578 $1,400 3289 3769 2904 145850 $267 1.30 171.66

2011 $224,361 $1,325 1309 1154 858 59970 $0 1.34 171.40

TOTALS $2,869,296 $60,100 17891 19164 11925 497346 $8,023 1.61 160.38

PUD Customers – 15,083 / Total Tree Trim Cost 6 yrs = $190 per/cust or $32/yr or $2.65/month. A movie rental for a few days cost more, a fancy coffee from the local coffee shack costs more, a movie theater ticket costs three times as much, a gallon of milk costs more…….it costs more per month for basic cable than tree trimming costs per year, tree trimming costs LESS per month than the City Tax portion (5-6%) of your avg PUD bill, TREE TRIMMING per month costs less than 1 gallon of gas……..so in the event that someone ever asks why tree trimming is important, please remind them that it is one of the cheapest insurances against expensive outages, fires and public hazards that they have available and the PUD provides them with that security and reliability as part of their electrical service vs. an additional tax, keeping their homes lighted, cooled, heated and powered.

Total Costs vs. Tree Related Outages 2006-11

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011

North

Central

South

Costs $ (x 10K)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

All Outages 2006-11. 389 Total

Bird Related (defined)

Trees/Weather combined (defined) Trees/Weather (undefined)

Other Animals (defined)

Squirrels

Service Line only + Weather Animal/Bird (undefined)

Bird Interference/squirrels, other animals = 64% of all outages Trees/Weather related tree incidents – 27% of all outages, with service only accounting for 9% of total

Weed Control - 2006-11 $ Year Soil Sterilant Summer Broadleaf – Pole

Yds, Subs, Properties Insecticide Enloe Gold Cr. Sub Annual Totals

2006 5650.08 1105.05 134.5 6889.63

2007 3567.02 1232.52 4799.54

2008 5254.38 1094.24 161.55 323.10 6833.27

2009 7998.21 1804.93 344.64 420.03 1400.10 11967.91

2010 4860.50 1813.25 6673.75

2011 4606.33 697.36 915.45 6219.14

Totals $31,936.52 $7,747.35 $640.69 $743.13 $2315.55 $43,383.24

•2010 Summer Broadleaf – Pole yds, Subs – includes Enloe Dam & Gold Creek $ •2011 Gold Cr – 20 ac Field spray + Okanogan Dirt Bank and warehouse parking

PUD Weed Control – for safety, Noxious weed prevention and resource protection

Soil Sterilant in Substations

Noxious weed control on all PUD properties, including the Enloe project

Summary - There are many hazards that factor into the safety and reliability of the PUD’s electrical system, including trees growing in and falling into our distribution & transmission right of ways, birds nesting and perching on poles & conductors, miscellaneous hazards such as beavers chewing down trees into our lines, fires and the hazards they create; all require a high level of monitoring and hard work …….managing these issues to prevent outages, increase system reliability and improve efficiency will always be a full time job. Thank you……

Loup Loup 115kV corridor