FORT WAYNE, Ind., April 1, 2024 – Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is trimming trees near transmission power lines in East-Central and Southeast Indiana using an aerial saw beginning this morning and continuing for about two weeks.
The work was rescheduled from the original plans to begin in early March. It involves routine maintenance to remove branches that can interfere with service reliability and pose potential safety hazards.
Trimming will take place, weather permitting, on Mondays through Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The helicopter is flying from south to north in parts of the following counties: Jefferson, Jennings, Decatur, Shelby, Hancock, Madison, Hamilton, Tipton, Howard, Delaware and Henry.
I&M has contracted with Rotor Blade LLC to perform the work using a helicopter-based tree-trimming saw. The helicopter is red, silver and black with a tail identification of N107SF.
The tree-trimming tool is suspended beneath a helicopter by a vertical boom that has multiple motor power saw blades attached. The helicopter will fly at tree-top heights while working. The aerial trimming is faster and more easily reaches areas away from roadways than traditional tree-trimming crews using ground equipment.
I&M is committed to balancing the importance of trees with the equally important need to deliver electricity safely and reliably. Anyone with questions should contact I&M at 800-311-4634.
# # #
Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) is headquartered in Fort Wayne, and its approximately 2,000 employees serve more than 600,000 customers. More than 85% of its energy delivered in 2023 was emission-free. I&M has at its availability various sources of generation including 2,278 MW of nuclear generation in Michigan, 450 MW of purchased wind generation from Indiana, more than 22 MW of hydro generation in both states and approximately 35 MW of large-scale solar generation in both states. The company’s generation portfolio also includes 1,497 MW of coal-fueled generation.
At American Electric Power, based in Columbus, Ohio, we understand that our customers and communities depend on safe, reliable and affordable power. Our nearly 17,000 employees operate and maintain more than 40,000 miles of transmission lines, the nation's largest electric transmission system, and more than 225,000 miles of distribution lines to deliver power to 5.6 million customers in 11 states. AEP also is one of the nation's largest electricity producers with nearly 29,000 megawatts of diverse generating capacity, including approximately 6,100 megawatts of renewable energy. AEP is investing $43 billion over the next five years to make the electric grid cleaner and more reliable. We are on track to reach an 80% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 2030 and have a goal to achieve net zero by 2045. AEP is recognized consistently for its focus on sustainability, community engagement and inclusion. AEP's family of companies includes utilities AEP Ohio, AEP Texas, Appalachian Power (in Virginia and West Virginia), AEP Appalachian Power (in Tennessee), Indiana Michigan Power, Kentucky Power, Public Service Company of Oklahoma, and Southwestern Electric Power Company (in Arkansas, Louisiana, east Texas and the Texas Panhandle). AEP also owns AEP Energy, which provides innovative competitive energy solutions nationwide. For more information, visit aep.com
MEDIA CONTACT
Tracy Warner
Indiana Michigan Power Communications
(260) 408-3420
tkwarner@aep.com