To help enhance service reliability for customers, FirstEnergy Corp. continues to conduct tree trimming work in communities across Toledo Edison's northwestern Ohio service area to maintain proper clearances around electrical equipment and help protect against tree-related outages.

Since the beginning of the year, contractors have trimmed trees along more than 2,000 miles of distribution and transmission lines in Toledo Edison's service area as part of the company's $7.2 million vegetation management program for 2016, with an additional 430 miles expected to be completed by year-end. 

Toledo Edison has or will conduct tree trimming work in the following communities in 2016: Bowling Green, Defiance, Delta, Clyde, Fayette, Fremont, Gibsonburg, Holgate, Lyons, Maumee, Monclova, Napoleon, Ney, Oregon, Pemberville, Toledo, Weston, Whitehouseand Woodville.

"Tree trimming is a key component in our efforts to enhance customer service reliability," said Rich Sweeney, regional president of Toledo Edison.  "In continuing this successful program, our goal is to reduce service interruptions by protecting our wires and other infrastructure from tree-related damage."

The vegetation management work is conducted by certified forestry experts under the company's direction, including: Asplundh Tree Expert Company; Nelson Tree; and Pennline Service.

As part of its notification process, Toledo Edison works with municipalities to inform them of tree trimming schedules. In addition, customers living in areas along company rights-of-way also are notified prior to vegetation management work being done. 

The tree trimming is done on a four-year cycle. Vegetation is inspected and trees are pruned in a manner that helps preserve the health of the tree while also maintaining safety near electric facilities. Trees that are considered to present a danger or are diseased may be removed.    

Toledo Edison serves more than 300,000 customers in northwest Ohio.  Follow Toledo Edison on Twitter @ToledoEdison or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ToledoEdison.